Devar/5769/Sukkot
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And ye shall take you on the first day the fruit of goodly trees, branches of palm-trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook (Lev 23:40)
There is a well-known midrash which explains the meaning of the four species like so: etrog (citron), which has both a taste and an aroma, corresponds to the Jew who both studies Torah and performs good deeds. The lulav (palm branch), which has taste but lacks aroma, corresponds to the one who studies Torah but does not perfom good deeds. The hadas (myrtle) corresponds to the one who performs good deeds, but has not yet given himself the merit of Torah study. And the arava (brook willow) -- having neither taste nor aroma -- corresponds to the one who has neither bothered to learn Torah nor to perform good deeds.
And according to the order of the species in the verse, one may learn: first of all is the etrog -- which is the highest level. Next is the lulav who even though he doesn't currently have good deeds, at least has learned Torah which leads to good deeds. Next is the hadas, who though he has not given himself the merit of Torah study, at least performs good deeds. And the lowest of all is the arava, who did not bother to rouse himself neither for this nor for that.
And there is another hint in the order: that the etrog's fruit "lives" on the tree as our Sages have said -- and it lasts a long time without wilting. Similarly, the lulav keeps its good appearance for a long time, though less than the etrog. The hadas wilts after a few weeks -- and the arava doesn't stay nice even for a few days, rather it wilts almost immediately.
So are the people who are likened to these four species -- the one who toils to learn Torah constantly, he has a reward both in this world and in the next. Whereas the one who does not bother to learn nor to do, does not even get to fill out his years in this world before he wilts and is no more. May it be His will that we bring ourselves the merit of Torah study and good deeds this year.
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