Sukkot Message: Unity Essential for Joy and Torah
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Sukkot's Sukkah and Four Species symbolize the necessity of national unity.
- Division carries a heavy, painful price, as evidenced by past events.
- True joy and the Torah are only possible when the nation is united.
- Political factions need each other, despite legitimate disagreements.
- Making space for one another is crucial for collective happiness.
The recent Sukkot holiday serves as a reminder of the importance of unity and leaving behind personal fortifications to embrace community, according to the author, who is the head of the Kollel at Otniel Yeshiva and a retired Lieutenant Colonel. Drawing on Jewish tradition, the article emphasizes that the commandment to dwell in the Sukkah symbolizes inclusivity, where all Jews are meant to share the same space, fostering mutual responsibility and shared joy. This concept is further illustrated by the "Four Species" (etrog, lulav, hadass, and aravah) used during Sukkot, which are bound together because each is incomplete on its own and requires the others to form a whole.
The author posits that true joy and the reception of the Torah are contingent upon national unity. He references a Midrash stating that the Torah was given to Israel only when they were united, comparing this to the four species where the etrog, symbolizing the heart, can only function when the entire "body" of Israel is united, with right and left sides joined together.
A painful reminder of the "heavy price of division" occurred three years ago, the author states, referencing the events of Simchat Torah (which fell on October 7th in 2023). He describes this as a "bloody reminder" of the consequences when the nation is not unified, when the right and left political factions are disconnected, and when people fail to make space for each other. He recounts his personal experience fighting on that Simchat Torah with his soldiers, with his heart broken but sustained by the immense embrace received from all sectors of society.
With Israel facing another election, the author stresses the obligation to act differently. He calls for prayer and action, reminding readers that despite legitimate disagreements, the right needs the left and the left needs the right. He urges Israelis to unite around the Torah, driven by a love that can overlook minor differences and a deep understanding of each person's critical role in the national puzzle. Only by making space for one another, he concludes, can true joy and dancing in the "Rejoicing of the Torah" be achieved.
Read the original at Israel Hayom
