Sukkos Shaleim 6 – ברך משה

Vayikra 23:42,43 "בסכת תשבו שבעת ימים" "למען ידעו דרתיכם כי בסכות הושבתי את בני ישראל בהוציאי אותם מארץ מצרים, אני ד' אלקיכם" "You shall dwell in Sukkos for seven days." "So that your generations will know that I caused the B'nei Yisroel to dwell in huts when I took them out from the land of Mitzrayim, I am Hashem, your G-d." The Gemara in Sukkos 11b says that there is a Machlokes between Rebbe Eliezer and Rebbe Akiva as to what "Sukkos" the Torah is referring to. Rebbe Eliezer says that it is referring to the Ananei Hakovod, and Rebbe Akiva said it is referring to actual huts in which Klal Yisroel sat in the Midbar. The question which begs an answer is, according to Rebbe Akiva, why do we have a Zecher for the huts that Klal Yisroel sat in while they travelled? All travelers live in those types of huts. Additionally, certainly Rebbe Akiva also agrees that Klal Yisroel were Zoche to have the Ananei Hakovod in the Midbar - thus, why does he say that the Zecher is the actual huts, and not the Ananei Hakovod? One needs to consider where Klal Yisroel obtained the actual huts? From where were they able to get wood and Schach to make those huts - as we know they were in the Midbar, a desolate place?

Presumably they didn't bring it with them from Mitzrayim, as the Torah tells us in Shemos 12:39 "וגם צידה לא עשו להם" - they didn't even bring food with them; then certainly they didn't bring tents and Sukkos with them. We must answer that Hakodosh Boruch Hu somehow prepared for them wood and Schach in the Midbar, in a way that seemed natural, as we were not told that a miracle occurred for them to have it. While it may have looked natural, it certainly wasn't, for there should not have been a way for them to obtain it. The Ananei Hakovod was a miracle which was beyond the boundaries of nature, while obtaining the material for them to make huts was a miracle disguised in nature. This is the explanation of the Shita of Rebbe Akiva. The Torah commands us to dwell in a Sukkah for seven days to remind us of the actual huts we dwelled in while we were in the Midbar to teach us what true Emunah is. If one experiences miracles that are beyond nature, it is easy to have Emunah then - for one sees clearly the Hand of Hashem. One must know and believe that everything in nature is also miracles; it is all from Hakodosh Boruch Hu, and He is the One ensuring that all of our needs are tended to. As the Ramban in Parshas Bo says, that one does not have a portion in the Toras Moshe until he believes that everything that happens in this world is all ordained and controlled by Hakodosh Boruch Hu, and that there is really no "nature" in this world, rather what we call nature is Hakodosh Boruch Hu's controlling the world clothed in what He created called, "nature."

This is what the Torah is telling us here, to remember the actual Sukkos we sat in while traversing the Midbar - the purpose of the Mitzvah, "למען ידעו דורותיכם כי בסוכות הושבתי את בני ישראל" that the generations of Klal Yisroel should recognize that even those plain old huts that they dwelled in, seemingly from what one would call in the natural way, that too was orchestrated by Hakodosh Boruch Hu, not just the open miracles. The hidden miracles cloaked in nature are also amazing wonders of Hakodosh Boruch Hu for which we must be grateful. The Posuk ends,"אני ד' אלקיכם" - The Shem Hashem represents the miracles that Hakodosh Boruch Hu performs which are beyond the boundaries of nature. (As stated in the Ibn Ezra in Parshas Va'aira) and אלקים is the Gematria of הטבע, the nature, for from the Mitzvah of Sukkah we know and have complete Emunah כי אני ד' אלקיכם that Hakodosh Boruch Hu is the One Who did, does, and will do all actions, both things which occur beyond the constraints of nature, as well as the miracles which are cloaked in nature).

Now we can understand why Rebbe Akiva says that the Mitzvah of Sukkah is a reminder of the actual huts that Klal Yisroel dwelled in while traversing the Midbar. The Yomim Tovim are to remind us of the Hashgacha Pratis, of Hakodosh Boruch Hu running every aspect of this world. Rebbe Akiva agrees, as per the words of the Torah, that there were Ananei Hakovod. That was a great miracle that occurred for Klal Yisroel constantly. However, the Ananei Hakovod was apparent to all, and easy to recognize that it was from Hakodosh Boruch Hu. That which they dwelled in huts, that they obtained wood and Schach for their Sukkah, and all else that seems to be part of nature - that is what Sukkos is all about.

We recognize that what we call nature, and everything around us is constantly being orchestrated by Hashem. Sukkos is a time to strengthen our Emunah that not only did Hakodosh Boruch Hu create this world, but He is constantly and always running every aspect of it. May we be Zoche to truly to connect to Hakodosh Boruch Hu during these special days of Sukkos.