Meaning in Mitzvot

Each week we discuss one familiar halakhic practice and try to show its beauty and meaning. The columns are based on Rabbi Meir's Meaning in Mitzvot on Kitzur Shulchan Arukh by Rabbi Asher Meir

Discomfort in the Sukka

The mishna states that if it is raining hard enough to spoil the food, one should leave the sukka (Mishna Sukka 2:9). This is one example of the general rule that one who suffers discomfort in the sukka is exempt, for if the dwelling causes discomfort it is no longer likened to an ordinary dwelling. (See Arukh Hashulchan639:20.) The mishna adds: "This is likened to a servant who comes to pour a drink for his master, and [his master] pours the pitcher in his face."

The commentators explain the likeness as follows: We fulfill the mitzva of sukka as servants who come to do the bidding of our Master, the Holy One blessed be He. If it is raining, we should feel rebuked as though are service is some- how lacking. We should be concerned that we are not performing the mitzva properly and therefore Hashem is not interested in obliging us.

While the mishna only claims a "likeness", the Maharil (a late Rishon) enunciated it as a halakhic rule: one who is compelled to leave the sukka because of untoward weather "shouldn't resent the sukka as he leaves, rather he should leave in a state of subjection like a servant who poured a cup for his master and he poured it in his face," and this ruling is brought down by the Rema on the Shulchan Arukh (OC 639:7).

According to the Maharil, the feeling of subjection of the rejected servant is to be contrasted with resentment. This is not obvious from the mishna; it is just as possible to understand that the natural feeling would be relief at being exempt from the obligation as if the master gave us a day off. However, we do find one other place in the Talmud which condemns resentment at the exemption from sukka.

The gemara at the beginning of Avoda Zara describes how Israel will be favored at the final judgment because of our performance of the mitzvot.
The nations then complain that they weren't given mitzvot to enable them to acquire merit, so Hashem will give them the mitzva of sukka. Yet then He will "take the sun out of its sheath", bringing searing heat on the world; this causes them to leave the sukka in disgust and contempt (ba'at), thus forfeiting their merit.

The gemara objects that they are correct in leaving the sukka, for (as we have just learned) extreme discomfort exempts us from this mitzva! The gemara replies that even when we are exempt, we do not resent the exemption (Avoda Zara 3a-b).

From this we can see that the ideal way to view the performance of the mitzvot is as a unique privilege granted us by God. If we are unable to carry them out we should feel a sense of disappointment and loss. But among lesser attitudes there are two levels:

Many people acknowledge their obligation in the commandments, but view them as a difficult burden. "Es is shver tzu zein a yid", "It's hard to be a Jew". This is an unfortunate attitude (it is said that Rav Moshe Feinstein was very critical of this common expression), but at the very least it captures the idea that we are servants of Hashem.

But some people view the commandments as a right, not a privilege. Like the rebellious nations described in Avoda Zara, they believe they have a right to a favorable judgment and a divine reward. They are willing to exert themselves a bit to obtain this reward, but ultimately they consider it an entitlement. If for some reason they aren't provided an opportunity to earn their reward they respond with resentment and contempt. This is a far worse attitude, for ultimately it makes man into a kind of master, as if the Creator "owes us". With their ruling on rain in the sukka, the Maharil and the Rema remind us that this is the attitude that we must above all avoid.

Rabbi Asher Meir has two wonderful books in print - Meaning in Mitzvot (ask for it at your local s'farim store) and The Jewish Ethicist, available at some bookstores and through the Business Ethics Center of Jerusalem, (02) 632-0222. Both works are highly recommended.

Latest publication developments: The book is completed! Yaakov Feldheim called me on Thursday to tell me that he "is pleased to announced the birth of a new book"... I hope to be able to give TT readers clear directions on how they can obtain a copy - probably I will direct them to the Feldheim website...

Rabbi Meir authors a popular weekly on-line Q&A column, "The Jewish Ethicist", which gives Jewish guidance on everyday ethical dilemmas in the workplace. The column is a joint project of the JCT Center for Business Ethics, Jerusalem College of Technology - Machon Lev; and Aish HaTorah. You can see the Jewish Ethicist, and submit your own Qs — www.jewishethicist.com or www.aish.com.