קהלת יעקב - Sukkos Drush 7
"מצוה לאחוז לולב בשעת אמירת הלל ולא בשאר איזה תפילה" - Chazal were Mesaken that Klal Yisroel should specifically perform the Mitzvah of Lulav (Daled Minim) during Hallel, and not during any other part of Davening. What is the connection between Hallel and the Mitzvah of Lulav? Why do we have the Yom Tov of Sukkos specifically after the days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Hakippurim? Why do we have the Mitzvah of Sukkah for seven days, while we only have the Mitzvah of Lulav for one day? (That which we perform the Mitzvah of Lulav after the first day is a Mitzvah D'rabbonon - but only the first day is a Mitzvah D'oraisa)?
There are deep hidden reasons for the Mitzvah of Sukkah being seven days, while Lulav only one day, but let's examine it based on our simple understanding. It says in Vayikra Rabbah 30:2 that on Rosh Hashanah there is a battle between Klal Yisroel and the other nations of the world. How do we know who won? When it comes to Sukkos and Klal Yisroel have their Lulavim in their hands, that is a sign of victory - that they were victorious in the battle. The Goyim accuse Klal Yisroel of taking more than their fair share. If Klal Yisroel have Hana'ah, benefit, from Olam Hazeh, then the Goyim should be entitled to Olam Habah. And if Klal Yisroel have Olam Habah, then they should not be entitled to any benefit of Olam Hazeh, rather the Goyim should get all of Olam Hazeh. This is what we fear on Rosh Hashanah, that perhaps the Goyim won the argument, and that Olam Habah will be given to them. We are therefore Mispalel in Shemoneh Esrei during the Aseres Yemei Teshuva for life in Olam Habah, "זכרנו לחיים" – and our intent in life is Olam Habah, as it says in the Shlah Hakodosh in Meseches Rosh Hashanah. Klal Yisroel focus on the true world, Olam Habah, that they are Mispalel for during these holy days. Although we have some fear before the Din, nonetheless, we are confident that Hakodosh Boruch Hu will not desert us, and Olam Habah will remain ours.
The Yalkut Shimoni in Parshas Va'eschanan 825 says that on Rosh Hashanah, Klal Yisroel don themselves in white, and eat and are joyous, for they have Bitachon that Hakodosh Boruch Hu will ensure that they are successful in their Din, and Olam Habah will remain with them. After we are certain that Olam Habah is ours, then we are concerned, that perhaps we have no rights in Olam Hazeh, as it then belongs to the Goyim. This is why there is a Din, a judgment, on water on the Yom Tov of Sukkos, and water is what the entire world depends on.
Klal Yisroel take the Daled Minim and through that, they bring a good judgment for the water to the world. If not for that, Hakodosh Boruch Hu would not bring water down to this world. It is obvious that Klal Yisroel have to be entitled to Olam Hazeh, for if they were not receiving any portion in it, why would they perform the Mitzvah of the Daled Minim, which brings the water to the world. There is a rule that if armed robbers come and take something from a person, which causes the person to believe that he will never get back his item or if it gets swept up in the ocean, in both of these cases, if someone comes and saves the item, he does not need to return it to the original owner; he can keep it. In truth, if not for Klal Yisroel, there would be no water, and thus there would be no Olam Hazeh. Thus, it is like they are taking from Hefker, that which is not owned by anyone. This gives them the right to have Olam Hazeh.
After Rosh Hashanah and Yom Hakippurim, we have the Yom Tov of Sukkos, and the judgment of the water, so that after Klal Yisroel were Zoche in Olam Habah, they can also be Zoche in Olam Hazeh. This was why Klal Yisroel bring seventy פרים,as Korbonos for the seventy nations of the world over the Yom Tov of Sukkos, for it appears to the nations of the world that it is not just, as Klal Yisroel receive both Olam Habah and Olam Hazeh. It appears to the Goyim that Klal Yisroel are stealing what is theirs. Thus, we show them that it is not so, and we are benefitting them.
That which Klal Yisroel receive Olam Hazeh is not stealing from them; it is not bad for them, but it is good for them. If Klal Yisroel would not receive Olam Hazeh, the Goyim would not either, and the world would revert back to nothingness. It is only because Klal Yisroel are Zoche to Olam Hazeh, that they also get a share in it, for Klal Yisroel bring Korbonos for them, and want them to also have. This is why we bring Korbonos for the other nations of the world on Sukkos. While we are all confident in being successful in Din to receive Olam Habah, it is not so with Olam Hazeh. The Tzaddikim are also entitled to Olam Hazeh, but not so for those who have sins. Hakodosh Boruch Hu doesn't want to take away our Olam Habah, He thus punishes one in Olam Hazeh for his sins. Thus, one may not be Zoche in Olam Hazeh. However, if Chas V'sholom we will not be Zoche in Din, and should thus technically be under the dominion of other nations, as Yitzchok Avinu said, "ואת אחיך תעבוד" nonetheless, we beseech Hakodosh Boruch Hu that we should not be under the thumb of other nations, rather we should always be under His shade.
The Daled Minim represent that we were successful in Din for Olam Habah. Olam Habah is above the nature of this world, and thus one day is sufficient to have the Mitzvah of Daled Minim to represent this. However, we dwell in the Sukkah for Olam Hazeh, to show that we always want to be in the shade of Hakodosh Boruch Hu. If we Chas V'shalom need to go to Golus, exile, due to our sins, dwelling in the Sukkah should fulfill that. A person's lifetime is seventy years, and thus, if one were to receive a lifetime sentence, it would not be for more than seventy years. Each day of Sukkos represents a completeness, and a completeness is ten. Each day of Sukkos is equal to ten years – so we dwell in the Sukkah for seven days, so that it should be equivalent to seventy years, so that if Chas V'sholom we need to receive a lifetime sentence of Golus, the dwelling of the Sukkah should fulfill this. This way we should be Zoche to have a complete Kapparah. We specifically perform the Mitzvah of Lulav during Hallel, for we thank and praise and Hakodosh Boruch Hu that we were victorious in Din, and that we are Zoche to Olam Habah.
