Welcoming the Ushpizin

Some Mussar from the Chofetz Chaim: who teaches that every host who invites guests must realize that he himself is also a guest – a guest in this temporal world. The Yom Tov of Sukkos fortifies this concept, as we enter into a temporary dwelling: the sukkah. As the Zohar explains, the sukkah is known as tzila dim’hemenusa  a shade of faithfulness, where the Shechina spreads her wings over us, reminding us that b’Yadcha l’vad, we are in Your Hands, Hashem, in Your Hands alone.

Two of the haftaros during Sukkos talk about the battle known as “milchemes Gog uMagog” – the cataclysmic series of battles that will result in the Geulah Sheleimah and Yemos HaMoshiach. There are many interpretations of the battle of Gog uMagog. Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch, zt”l, explains that the words gog and magog derive from the word gag – roof. A roof represents that which we believe is sturdy and protective, in contrast to the sukkah with its weak and unstable roof of s’chach. Hence the battle of Gog and Magog is the internal struggle of believing that we are in control versus accepting the reality of Hashem’s dominance over our existence.

We are all familiar with the expression “I have a roof over my head,” indicating a feeling of security and stability. The sukkah is the antithesis of the gag. The sukkah depicts the realization that we are not in control and that we must place our trust in Hashem. We have total faith in the tzila dim’hemenusa, the protective Heavenly shade.

The passuk tells us in Parshas Ki Seitzei (Devarim 22:8) that when you build a new house “v’asisa maakeh l’gagecha” – you should make a fence for your roof (so as to remove a potential danger). In light of our new explanation of the struggles of Gog Magog, perhaps the passuk is telling us that when it comes to gagecha – your roof, your believe that you’re safe and in control – v’asisa maakeh – make a fence around that concept. Remind  yourself that only Hashem determines our fate, our safety, our serenity.

We must believe that we are ushpizin in the temporary confines of the sukkah, reinforcing our emunahy, our pure faith in Hashem. It is this emunahy that we must convey to our family.

The passuk in Hallel says (Tehillim 116:10), “he’emanti ki adabel… – I believe even when I say…” However, these words can also be translated as “he’emanti” – instill emunahy (into your family) “ki adaber” – by speaking about it. Only then will it become the bedrock of our existence.

Many years ago some of the last talmidim of the Vilna Gaon were making the journey to settle in Eretz Yisrael. One talmud was Rav Yeshiva Bardaki. Unfortunately, before the journey began, his wife passed away, leaving him with a young son and daughter to raise alone. As their ship was nearing the final part of its journey, the weather turned incredibly tumultuous, with extraordinarily dangerous waves. The ship capsized, and everyone attempted to frantically swim to the shores of Eretz Yisrael.

Rav Yeshaya Bardaki took his two little children, one under each arm, and began what seemed like an impossible task. Every time he felt that he could not go on, he gathered a bit more strength.

Finally he realized that he simply could not continue, and that it would be better for two of them to survive than for all three to perish. In a most heart-wrenching and unfathomably difficult decision, he decided to take on child, and leave the other behind. As he began to swim away with his son, he heard his daughter’s voice. Her cry pierced the heavens. “Tatty! Tatty! Please don’t leave me! I don’t have a mother – if you leave, I won’t have a father. You are all that I have! Please don’t leave me!

When Rav Yeshivah heard these words emanating from the depths of her soul, he miraculously felt renewed chizuk. He swam back to her, and b’chasdei Hashem, the three made it safely to Eretz Yisrael.

We cry to Hashem in the tefillah of Avinu Malkeinu, “Ein lanu melech ela Attah!” Ribbono shel Olam, please don’t leave us; You are all that we have! Ki hineni b’Yadcha l’vad.”

This Sukkos may we internalize our role as ushpizin. Let us vanquish any destructive concept of Gog uMagog. Let us merit that Hashem will hear our cries from the depths of our souls. And as Rav Yeshivah Bardaki merited, may Hashem bring us, [ALL] His children, safely back to Eretz Yisrael. Then we will see the fulfillment of “HaRachaman Hu yakim lanu es sukkas David hanofales.”

_________________________________

As read in Hamodia, by Rabbi Ephraim Eliyahu Shapiro, Rav of Congregation Shaaray Tefilah in North Miami Beach, Florida.