Sicha of the Rebbe – Succos

The Rebbe says:

1. During the holiday of Succos (Sukkot) there are many other Mitzvos (commandments) which we are commanded to fulfill besides for sitting and living in the Succah. For example; we must bring together the Four Species and make a Brachah (blessing) over them. Never the less, this holiday is called “Succos”, referring specifically to the commandment to sit and live in the Succah.

2. The Rebbe now gives five reasons as to why this holiday is specifically named “Succos” after the commandment to sit in the Succah and not after any of the other commandments related to this holiday:

Reason One: The commandment to sit and live in the Succah begins the exact second that the holiday begins and lasts until the very last second the holiday ends; however the other commandments only begin the next morning after the holiday begins.

Reason Two: Even before Succos starts we must prepare a Succah with four walls to be ready for us when Succos begins; however the other commandments can be made ready even after the holiday already began.

Reason Three: The commandment to sit and live in the Succah is upon us every second of the holiday; there is no such thing as completing the obligation of sitting and living in the Succah (until the holiday is over of course). On the other hand, the obligations of the other commandments finish once we have completed them that day and begin again the next day.

Reason Four: The other commandments are only acted out with specific limbs of our body and therefore only cause Hashem (G-d) to send down specific energy flows into this world. However, when we sit in the Succah our entire body is involved in the Mitzvah and a very special “all encompassing” energy from Hashem is brought down into the world. This being the case, any (permitted) mundane activity which is done in the Succah is a Holy act, even though before Succos this same act was a regular daily activity.

Reason Five: When we are not actually engaged in the performance of the other commandments we are not fulfilling their obligation. However the Mitzvah of Succah is different:

The Talmud says, “Any man who doesn’t have a house is not a (complete) man” . In other words the Talmud is saying that any man who doesn’t have a house to call his own is not a complete man, however if he does own a house he is a complete man even if he is not actually in his house at this second. Therefore, during the holiday of Succos, when the Succah is supposed to be like our house, the same applies; even when we are not actually in our Succah we are connected to the great Mitzvah of having a Succah!

3. The Rebbe now tells us the lesson we must learn from this:

Our Sages tell us that the energy of the Hebrew month of Tishrei lasts throughout the whole year . Therefore, any commandment which we are obligated to fulfill during the month of Tishrei must be a lesson for us throughout the year, including the commandment to live in the Succah (which is during the month of Tishrei).

The lesson that we can all learn from the commandment to sit and live in the Succah is that “we must know Hashem in all our ways” . This means that not only when we are Davening (praying) or learning should we feel Hashem’s presence, but even when we are going through our daily routine we must bring Hashem into our lives just like when we are living it he Succah.

Where do we gather the strength from to be able to bring Hashem into every aspect of our lives? From the Succah.

4. The Rebbe ends off with a promise and a blessing:

When we make our daily activities places for Hashem to rest we will surely receive blessings in all that we need; children, health, and abundant wealth.

Translated and adapted by Shalom Goldberg. Taken from Likutei Sichos volume two, first Sicha.