Our Battle with the Nations of the World
Winning the War
The Midrash (Vayikra 30:2) relates a mashal regarding our taking the dalet minim on Sukkos:
Rabbi Avin said: A mashal of two people who came before the judge, and we don’t know who was victorious in the judgment—but when we see one of them carrying a bayonet in his hands, we know that he was the victor. So too, the Jewish People and the nations of the world come before HaKadosh Baruch Hu on Rosh Hashanah, and we don’t know who emerged victorious—it is only when we see Klal Yisrael going out from HaKadosh Baruch Hu with their lulavim and esrogim in hand that we know they were victorious. Therefore, Moshe Rabbeinu exhorts Klal Yisrael, saying, הראשון ביום לכם “ולקחתם — You shall take for yourselves on the first day....”
That is, the nations of the world prosecute Klal Yisrael on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur—a war between the forces of good and evil—and it is unclear who was victorious. Therefore, HaKadosh Baruch Hu commanded us to take the four minim on Sukkos as a sign of victory, a sign that Klal Yisrael was victorious over the forces of evil and the nations of the world.
