THE PROTECTIVE SHADE

SUKKOT

5767

The twenty-two letters of the Hebrew Alef Bet are classified into five categories, according to the way they are expressed. These categories are the guttural (throat), labial (lips), palatal (palate), sibilant (teeth), and the lingual (tongue).

The four letters constituting the Hebrew term Sukkah are drawn from four of these categories. The Samech is a sibilant, the Vav a labial, the Kaf a palatal and the Hea a guttural. There is no lingual. There is no place for the Lashon Hara – the slanderous tongue, in the Sukkah. (The Gra)

The tongue is in the forefront on Pesah with the Mitzvah of Haggadah, the telling of the exodus from Egypt. The words of revelation at Sinai on Shavuot is a function of the tongue. On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur we cannot supplicate in prayer and do Teshuvah – penitence, without our tongue.

In strong contrast, on Sukkot the emphasis is on action rather than speech.

Sukkot gives meaning to the exodus (Pesah), the revelation (Shavuot) and self-redemption ( Yamim Noraim – Days of Awe), with the gathering of Knesset Yisrael – the Mystic Community of Israel, under the protective shadow of the Shechinah – divine presence, with love, with joy and in peace.