The halacha is that just as the schach can’t be too thin (it must block a majority of the sun), it also shouldn’t be too thick. The Halacha states that one should be able to see the stars from inside the sukkah. Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto writes that stars serve as the pipeline through which heavenly influences are brought into the physical world. According to Rav Soloveitchik we must be able to see the stars from our sukkah in order to keep our horizons broad. The Rav explained that man's problem is that his personal schach obscures his vision. When seeing the stars, we remind ourselves that there is a whole universe out there full of possibilities and promise. Perhaps it is because stars represent aspirations that they also figure prominently in dreams. The most famous dream that entailed stars was Yosef’s dream. Even as we build a sukkah for ourselves and provide for current, pressing needs we must continue to look to the stars and dream. One dream on many of our minds is the promise of a day when Hashem will spread His Sukkah of Peace upon all of Israel and the Jewish People. As we dream and work towards yet unfulfilled dreams, should remember that sometimes we can be living a dream and we don’t appreciate it
An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied, "Only a little while." The American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish. The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs. The American then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?" The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life."
The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise."
The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?" To which the American replied, "15 - 20 years." "But what then?" Asked the Mexican. The American laughed and said, "That's the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions!" "Millions - then what?" The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."
On Sukkot as we look at the stars, let us not forget where we are sitting. From a historical perspective the fact that we have a State of Israel is the fulfillment of the dreams of so many previous generations. Furthermore, Vilna Gaon points out that dwelling in the sukkah is an incredible mitzvah that can be performed with our entire bodies- even with the dirt on our shoes. We need to see the stars from our sukkah. It reminds us to broaden our perspective and to reach for the stars. But before we get carried away by the stars and all of those endless possibilities we should ask ourselves: is there any greater ambition than to be surrounded by family and friends fulfilling a mitzvah with every fiber of one’s being, especially today in 5786 when the Jewish People have a Jewish State?
No comments:
Post a Comment