From here I’d like to move to another point, from the words of the Ezor Eliyahu. The Torah says:
In booths you shall dwell for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall dwell in booths, so that your generations may know that I made Bnei Yisrael dwell in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your G-d.
Before entering the sukkah, we recite a Tefillah:
May it be Your will... And in the merit of my going out of my house - I eagerly pursue Your commandments - let this be considered as if I wandered far away (in exile), and wash me thoroughly of my iniquity and purify me of my sin.
The Ezor Eliyahu says, it is brought in the Arizal HaKadosh, that once Rabbi Shmuel di Ozida, who was then a young scholar, entered. At that moment, the Arizal stood up before him; and at that time, Rav Chaim Vital was also there and was very surprised. He asked, "Why did Your Honor stand up for the young scholar?" The Arizal said to him, "I did not stand up for the young scholar, but for the honor of the Tanna Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair who came with him!" Rav Chaim Vital then asked, "How could it be that Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair entered with him?!" The Arizal responded, "Apparently, he adhered to a Mitzvah that Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair was also meticulous about."
Rabbi Chaim Vital was very surprised and ran after Rabbi Shmuel di Ozida, "Your Honor must tell me something – did you do any special Mitzvah today?" "Yes! On my way to the shul, I heard shouting from one of the houses. I went in to see what the shouting was about and discovered that there were thieves who had stripped the homeowners and left them without clothes. Immediately, I went and raised money for them and helped them with everything they needed to return to their previous state!"
Rabbi Chaim Vital then understood that since Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair was accustomed to engaging in Pidyon Shevuyim – the redemption of captives, and on that day Rabbi Shmuel di Ozida was involved in the same Mitzvah, the soul of Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair had entered him!
The author of Ezor Eliyahu writes: The concept of the Sukkah is in the aspect of גֵּר אָנֹכִי בָאָרֶץ אַל תַּסְתֵּר מִמֶּנִּי מִצְוֹתֶיך – I am a stranger in the land; do not hide Your commandments from me, meaning that a person exiles himself from his home and dwelling to outside. All the seven shepherds – Ushpizin – did not merit their holiness and great level except after exile and wandering. Avraham Avinu was instructed to leave his homeland and family for new land; Yitzchak Avinu left to the land of Avimelech and the Plishtim; Yaakov Avinu fled from Eisav; Moshe Rabbeinu fled from Pharaoh; Aharon HaKohen left his home to meet his brother in the desert; Yosef...
