Sukkahtarium

As we approach Sukkos, I thought I would share another quick thought. We leave our more permanent houses this time of year in order to dwell for seven days in our temporary Sukkos. Thus, we commemorate that Hashem protected us in "Sukkos" throughout our travels in the wilderness.

Rabbeinu Bacheye teaches that the construction of a Sukkah mimicks the world around us. As seen in Rashi (Sukkah 4a, the "standard" Sukkah, in the eyes of Chazal, was constructed of three walls, not four. Rabbeinu Bacheye points out that this reflects the way this world appears to be set up. The Sun rises from the east and travels across the southern sky (northern for southern hemisphere dwellers) and then sets in the west. Thus, the Sun only travles across "three walls" of the sky and leaves the fourth open. The Sukkah of three walls expresses this point. (See Rabbeinu Bacheye Kad HaKemach, Sukkos)

Keep in mind that solar activity is integral to Sukkah design as one of the fundamental features of a Sukkah must be that there is more shade provided by the Schach than there is sunlight. Additionally, stellar activity plays somewhat of a role as it is appropriate for one to be able to gaze at the stars through the Schach.

Have a wonderful Sukkos!

7/10

As Yom Tov approaches and things become more and more hectic, I figured I would just post a quick thought. Yom Kippur is called Shabbos Shabbason, the ultimate Shabbos. Shabbos is the completion of the week and one would think that Yom Kippur should demonstrate some form of completion that seems more palpable than just being the end of the Aseres Yemei Teshuva. Perhaps, upon further review one can actually see this demonstrated based on the date upon which Yom Kippur falls.

Yom Kippur is the tenth day of the seventh month. Our sages have historically described the celestial movements as occurring through spheres that encircle the world. The first seven contain the naked eye celestial objects that move independent of the regular stars, the "planets." These are the sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The eighth sphere contains the regular stars and the ninth is the outer wheel that sets the inner eight into proper motion. The Master of the universe is described allegorically as being in a tenth sphere, one not physical nor comprehensible via human rationale, and He is "turning the ninth wheel with precision" to ensure that the inner workings happen appropriately. The first seven of these wheels, the planets find their completion with the number seven and this is expressed in the seven day week showing a demonstrable completion. Shabbos' completion displays the first element of this completed universe, that of the planets. Yom Kippur shows the entire universe being complete. It is the tenth day, ten for the full ten spheres, of the seventh month, seven for the planets. Gmar Chasima Tova.

The kabbalsitic sources also appropriate the above mentioned spheres with the kabbalistiv sephiros which are also expressed in sevens and tens.