UNCONDITIONAL AND ABSOLUTE
Our Sages teach us that the Esrog represents the one who has both Torah study and good deeds, the Lulav represents the one who has Torah study but lacks good deeds, the Hadassim represent the one who has good deeds but lacks Torah study and finally the Arava represents the Jew lacks both Torah study and good deeds. These four types of plants are brought together and held in the hands of every Jew as he celebrates his Succos holiday. The imagery can be appreciated as we bring all types of Jews together and in unison we draw ourselves close to HaShem.
There is, however, a special mitzvah that the prophets instituted which is celebrated on the final day of Succos, Hoshanah Raba. The unique name of this day reflects this mitzvah. Towards the end of the morning service we place our Lulav and Esrog down and pick up five Arava branches and we beseech HaShem to bring Mochiach. This mitzvah was actually celebrated in the Mikdosh all seven days and outside the Mikdosh it is only celebrated on Hoshanah Raba. What is the message? How is the Arava, the plant that represents the Jew who has no Torah study and no good deeds, the plant to be chosen for this sacred mitzvah?
The Parsha of Lech L’cha begins with HaShem instructing Avraham to leave his homeland and begin a new life in the Land of Israel. This seminal story is not introduced with the Torah telling us that Avraham was a righteous man as the Torah does when introducing us to Noach. Why does the Torah omit the stories which demonstrate Avraham’s commitment to HaShem which indeed preceded this seminal incident?
The Maharal explains that HaShem wanted to make clear that His choice of Avraham to be the father of HaShem’s chosen people was not predicated on the righteousness of Avraham. While it was true that Avraham had demonstrated incredible dedication to HaShem and to His Torah, nevertheless, that was not a factor in HaShem’s choice. The Torah therefore omitted every mention of Avraham’s goodness before the choice was made.
The Maharal continues that if HaShem’s choice would have been predicated upon Avraham’s good deeds then the moment our people would fall short of those good deeds, HaShem’s chosen people would fall from their status. If their distinct status was the result of Avraham’s righteousness then that status would be lost when the righteousness fails.
Succos is the holiday in which we celebrate the forgiveness we were granted on Yom Kippur, we celebrate the open embrace that HaShem offered us by giving us the second set of Tablets and we celebrate the eternal commitment HaShem has to us.
After celebrating the complete cycle of seven days of Succos we take the Arava, representing the Jew who has no merit of his own. He has no Torah study and no good deeds but he is a member of the Jewish people. We lift him up and pray to Hashem to bring about the culmination of world history with the coming of Moshiach. We do not expect to be deserving of that great moment. We anticipate it because HaShem Himself invested His Name in us and it is for that Name that we beseech HaShem to bring about Moshiach.
May HaShem bless us with everything that we do not deserve and with everything that He deserves.
Have a wonderful Shabbos and joyous Yom Tov.
Paysach Diskind