In Hilchos Rosh Chodesh (Orach Chaim 417), the Tur cites his brother, Rabbeinu Yechiel, who teaches that the Shalosh Regalim correspond to the three Avos [Patriarchs]. Pesach corresponds to Avraham, as is alluded to by the pasuk: “Knead and make rolls” (Bereishis 18:6). (The Rabbinic tradition is that the malochim came to visit Avraham on the Yom Tov of Pesach.) Shavuos corresponds to Yitzchak, because the shofar blast at the time of the giving of the Torah (Shemos 19:19) was with a shofar that came from the ram (that was sacrificed in place) of Yitzchak at the time of the Akeidah. Finally, Succos corresponds to Yaakov, as it is written “...and for his cattle he made little huts (Succos), therefore they called the name of the place Succos” (Bereishis 33:17).
Rav Meir Bergman asks an obvious question in his sefer Sha’arei Orah. We can understand that Pesach corresponds to Avraham, because he told Sarah to bake matzos. That makes sense. The attribute of Avraham Avinu (our forefather Avraham) was chessed [kindness], and the act of preparing food and serving guests — at a time when he was still recovering from bris milah — represented his attribute of kindness, his essence.
We can also understand that Shavuos corresponds to Yitzchak, because the shofar of Har Sinai was from the ram of the Akeidah. That too makes sense. Yitzchak represented the attribute of self-sacrifice (mesiras nefesh). That attribute is embodied in the ram that was a replacement for the sacrifice that Yitzchak was prepared to offer of himself. This fits in well with the theme of receiving the Torah (on Shavuous) for which we also need that same attribute of self-sacrifice. Therefore, both these allusions make sense. However, in what way does making huts for his sheep embody the essence of Yaakov Avinu?
Rav Bergman has a beautiful interpretation of the Tur’s brother’s comment. The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh asks the following question on the above quoted pasuk: Does it make sense that they named the place “Succos” just because Yaakov made little huts there for his cattle? Was that such a significant activity that for time immemorial the place should be known by the name Succos? The Ohr HaChaim answers that Yaakov did something revolutionary for his cattle, with Succos, that no one had ever done before in the history of the world. Yaakov was the first person to build shelters for his animals. To commemorate this precedent-setting action, the location was forever more given the name Succos.
However, the answer of the Ohr HaChaim still begs for further explanation. The explanation is as follows: In the next parsha (Parshas Veyeishev) we have the incident of Yosef being tempted by Potiphar’s wife. Chazal tell us that when Yosef was about to commit the act of adultery with this temptress, he thought to himself, “How can I do this? Your husband was so nice to me — he gave me a job, he gave me a place to live — how can I be so ungrateful by committing this treacherous act?”
What prompted Yosef to have these “second thoughts”? At that moment, the image of his father Yaakov appeared to him in the window. This stopped him from proceeding with the sin. What does this mean?
The meaning is that Yaakov gave over to his son Yosef the appreciation of the attribute of hakaros hatov [recognizing when someone is owed a debt of gratitude]. Chazal learn from the fact that Yaakov sent Yosef telling him, “Please go check on... the welfare of the sheep...” (Bereishis 37:14) that a person is obligated to investigate after the welfare of things from which he derives benefit. In other words, a person must even have hakaros hatov towards his sheep. If one earns his living by raising sheep, the attribute of hakaros hatov demands that you show appreciation to those animals. They are responsible for your livelihood. Yaakov Avinu’s attribute of hakaros hatov was so extensive that he told Yosef to investigate the welfare of the sheep.
