Wave That Lulav

As Succoth (s00-COAT) winds down I have a little time to think about how this ancient festival resonates in modern times. We are commanded by HaShem to dwell in succoth, temporary homes, for seven days to remind us that in these we dwelled in our forty year journey from slavery to our return to our homeland in Eretz Yisrael. The roof of our succoth are not to be attached to the rest of the structure leaving it, and us, vulnerable to the elements. This is to remind us of the Clouds of Glory with which we were sheltered for most of our time in the desert. These clouds, provided by HaKadosh Borachu, protected us from our enemies and the desert heat. We put faith in HaShem again to protect us, despite the flimsy nature of the roofs we place on top of us for these seven days, even as it reminds us that His protection is all we have in this world every day of the year.

As the construction freeze in Judea and Samaria ends, and building is resuming in the heartland of the Jewish people, our enemies again gather against us. The Little Lord Flatulent in the White House condemns us in the UN. Frezzident Sarkosy says he will jumpstart the "peace talks" and that construction must stop. In other words: Jews...surrender the dream of sovereignty in your homeland, stop having babies, and give over your lives to those that want you dead. That we have once again built succoth, and show our faith in the Gd of Israel, should be enough of an answer to the world: Kindly, go to hell.

Our families grow. The fruits of Israel are harvested. Grapes are trodden in the press. The wine ages. Our enemies are confounded. And we dwell in huts, sing, and celebrate all that the Gd of Israel did, and still does for us.

We are commanded to do something else on Succoth. We are to gather the branches of the willow, myrtle, date palm, and the fruit of the citroen that we call the etrog. We are to bring these four species together and celebrate before the Gd of Israel with joy. Every year we do this. Why? Because HaShem has commanded us to do so. It is confounding to our enemies, and the reason why they cannot seem to break us. If we are willing to wave plants and celebrate at HaShem's command, then what will we not do?

A 5-ton tombstone has just been reset on Joseph's tomb in Shechem, 10 years after it was destroyed and desecrated by the people the world thinks we should make peace with. Homes are being built in the heartland of Israel. The world can complain and whine all it wants. We are in our succoth, and B"H, no ill winds can drive us out.