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52 | Harav Shlomo Singer Harav Netanel Wiederblank | 53
Harav Ne tane l W ie derbl ank
The Mabit puts it simply: a state of closeness to Hashem. When we engage
in cheit (sin), we distance ourselves from the Creator. It’s hard not to go there Maggid Shiur RIETS
throughout the year. The yetzer hora is calling us with a full arsenal of tools.
Every time we listen, we create distance, separation. But at this time of year, in
Elul, and then the Aseres Yemei Teshuva, there is a unique closeness opportunity The Halakhic Mandate to Bind the Arba Minim
with Hashem. The possibility for reconnecting is palpable. It’s done through Together
teshuva.
Can’t I just learn a little, do the mitzvos and be okay? Ah, but there’s SO much You shall take for yourselves on the מ: גכ ארקיו
more to gain if we give a little more. Since Rosh Chodesh Elul, we have been first day the fruit of a citron tree
saying Tehillim 27 twice a day after davening. The words speak of our deep [an esrog], the branches of date ץע ירפ ןושארה םויב םכל םתחקלו
and sincere yearning. “One thing I asked of Hashem, that shall I seek: That I dwell in palms [a lulav], twigs of a plaited יברעו תבע ץע ףנעו םירמת תפכ רדה
the House of Hashem all the days of my life, to behold the sweetness of Hashem and to tree [hadassim], and brook willows תעבש םכיהלא› ה ינפל םתחמשו לחנ
contemplate in His Sanctuary.” [aravos]; and you shall rejoice before :םימי
Hashem, your God, for seven days.
Life can be sweet here. But Yerushalayim, with the Bais Hamikdosh, that is
where we can feel the presence fully of Hashem. We yearn for that. We speak
our words of teshuva, of return, of ending the separation. he Torah instructs us to “take” an esrog, lulav, hadassim, and aravos on
Sukkos. But how are we to take these four species, together or separately?
Elul—ani l’dodi, v’dodi li. Beloved is said twice. Because it’s a two-way street. We T Here the Talmud records a dispute: According to R. Yehuda at least
1
express our yearning, but Hashem is wanting that closeness also! More than three of the species must be bound together, and holding them separately will
we can ever realize, our Creator is coming close, beckoning…to us!
not fulfill the mitzvah. He derives this from a gezeira shava, a hermeneutical
As we come into Rosh Hashana, when we crown our King, let us realize that principle halakhically linking two seemingly unrelated topics. The Chakhamim
this too is an act of closeness. By crowning the Almighty, we are re-declaring disagree, rejecting R. Yehuda’s gezeira shava and maintaining that it is not
ourselves to be His precious and unique nation. We are HIS people. Elul gets us essential that the lulav, hadassim, and aravos be tied together, but all the while
ready, but with Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, we can return home. agreeing that tying them anyway is commendable practice, successfully
beautifying the mitzvah. It is this latter view, of the Chakhamim, that we follow,
that tying is not essential but preferable nevertheless, and accordingly on
Sukkos we tie our lulav together with the hadassim and the aravos.
Let’s try to understand the underlying nature of this dispute between R.
Yehuda and the Chakhamim. R. Yehuda’s understanding of the mitzvah seems
straightforward enough: the four species are meant to be held in our hands as
1 יאמ .לוספ - דוגא וניאש ,רשכ דוגא :רמוא הדוהי יבר ,רשכ דוגא וניאש ןיב דוגא ןיב ,בלול :אינתד : .גל ףד הכוס תכסמ ילבב דומלת
םתחקלו )בי תומש( םתה ביתכו ןושארה םויב םכל םתחקלו )גכ ארקיו( אכה ביתכ .בוזא תדוגאמ החיקל החיקל ףילי ?הדוהי יברד אמעט
ודגא אל םאו ,ודגואל הוצמ בלול :ןנבר ונתד ,אהל אנת ןאמ .החיקל החיקל והל תיל :ןנברו - .הדוגא ןאכ ףא - הדוגא ןלהל המ ,בוזא תדגא
והונאו ילא הז )וט תומש( םושמ הוצמו ,ןנבר םלועל - ?דיבע אק הוצמ יאמ - ןנבר יא ?רשכ יאמא ודגא אל יכ - הדוהי יבר יא ?ינמ .רשכ -.
Agudah Achasgudah Achas
A Agudah Achas
