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Sukkot (2026)

Sukkot

Dvar Torah – Putting our Mitzvoth in ActionOne of the special Mitzvoth of Sukkot is taking the Four Species – the Lulav, Etrog, Hadas, and Arava. While they are all beautiful in their own right, the Etrog (citron) above all possess a truly unnatural splendor and the optimal way of performing the Mitzvah is to pick out the most beautiful etrog we can find, ideally grown to a stately shape, free of any scratches or bruises.

After exerting considerable resources procuring a beautiful esrog, we don’t keep it on a shelf but put it to use holding and waving it together with the other species as we recite the Hallel (prayer of thanksgiving) in the synagogue. Naturally, during its usage the etrog starts to accumulate some bruises. With the oxidation of its outer skin there are even some brown spots similar to blemishes which would invalidate an etrog for use in the first place!

The 18th century Halachist Rabbi Moshe Sofer (the Chatam Sofer) offers a fascinating observation. Since these blemishes came about through proper performance of the Mitzvah, they could not possibly be blemishes which would invalidate the etrog for use. To the contrary, these blemishes which came about through performance of a mitzvah make the etrog even more desirable for use.

Perhaps to generalize, our Mitzvoth are not supposed to sit on a shelf but should be put into action in real life in the real world. Keeping a kosher kitchen involves a fair amount of elbow grease. So does helping someone change a flat tire (Mitzvah of teina and perika). The list goes on.

Like the etrog which is carefully selected without blemish, the Torah expects us start every day in the pristiness of the synagogue, in the holiness of prayer – but to also be ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work. Our Mitzvoth are meant to be put into action.

Chag candle lighting/Havdalah timesNote: concludes outside of Israel on Sun nightYerushalayim 17:52/19:07Tel-Aviv 18:12/19:09Amsterdam 19:14/20:20London 18:34/19:39NYC 18:30/19:27Chicago 18:22/19:22More times here

Chag Sameach!



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