The Meaning of Succot
On Yom Kippur, we achieved sufficient atonement to warrant the entry of
our representative in the holy of holies. Now that the Jewish people have
reached that level, Succoth is the time at which all Jews have an
opportunity to dwell in the house of the L-rd, namely, in a Succah. A
Succah is a flimsy protection from the elements, reminding us that we live
in the protection of G-d, not some wooden roof. On Succoth all Jews live
in the house of the L-rd. We have taken the Temple and brought it home.
The Meaning of Lulav and Etrog
One midrash suggests that the lulav and etrog is a kind of victory
symbol, marking the victory on Yom Kippur over our accusers in Heaven. One
passage in the Talmud seems to indicate that the lulav is an arrow in the
eye of the Satan, or a weapon to fend off bad thoughts, bad ideas, bad
intentions. After Yom Kippur, we might be tempted to go astray, so the
lulav helps us fend off bad deeds. Another meaning of the lulav is that it
is an instrument of Hallel, thanksgiving. By waving the lulav, we give
thanks to G-d for the harvest and for all of nature. It alludes to a world
in which every creature serves a Divine purpose.
The lulav and its accompanying 3 species of myrtle, citron, and willow
also represent the parts of the body. As we use the lulav to praise G-d,
we say that we do so with our whole being. Alternatively, the 4 species
can be seen as representing 4 types of Jews or people. On Succot we come
together with all Jews of all types. We come together in the unifying
Succah and we come together in the form of the lulav and etrog.
