Welcoming Special Guests on Sukkos

By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin

USHPIZIN – Aramaic for guests.

Seven nights of Succos. Seven exalted, spiritual guests.

We welcome the holy neshamaos of the raya mehemna, the faithful shepherds, leaders of our people, to our succahs.

Avrohom, Yitzchak, Yaakov, Yosef, Moshe, Aaron, Dovid.

There is a beautiful welcoming tefilla that is recited upon entering the succah: “Tivu tivu ushpizin iloyin…, Be seated, be seated, exalted guests; Be seated, be seated holy guests; Be seated, be seated guests of faithfulness; be seated in the shade of the Holy One, Blessed is He.”

While the neshamos of all seven Ushpizin grace our succah, there is a different honored leader from amongst them for each night. The first night, Avraham, the second night Yitzchok, and so on.

It is written in the Zohar that when we leave our home and enter the succah “l’shem Shomayim – for the sake of Heaven” (with the intention to fulfil a mitzvah), we merit that the Shechinah, Divine Presence and all seven faithful shepherds join us in the succah.

Some have a custom of preparing an “Ushpizin seat”. They decorate a chair and place sefarim upon it, welcoming the honored guests to their succah.

Succos is the only Yom Tov called Z’man Simchaseinu, Festival of our Joy. The Ushpizin, our holy guests descend from Gan Eden and rejoice together with us, bringing blessing to our succah.

On Succos, we connect to our past. We recall how our nation lived in succahs during their forty years in the desert. They traveled to the “unknown”, trekking through uncharted desert sands. How did they survive? From where did they muster their added strength? They were fortified with emunah and bitachon, faith and trust in HaShem. Although they didn’t know what lay ahead of them, their connection to HaShem remained strong and steadfast.

Each of the Ushpizin had their own personal life journey. Journeys that gave them the strong foundations needed to become leaders of Am Yisroel.

Avraham answered HaShem’s call of “Lech Lecha – Go for Yourself”. He left everything familiar behind him, and went on a journey of self-discovery and connection to HaShem. A journey that led him to become the father of the Jewish nation.

Yitzchok’s journey was to Har Moriah – site of the Akeidah. He was ready to sacrifice himself to serve HaShem. A strength which became embedded in the spiritual genes of future generations.

Yaakov had to live life “on the run”, escaping from his brother Eisav. His journey led him to the house of Lavan, and eventually becoming the father of the Shivtei Kah, the Twelve Tribes.

Yosef had his own difficult life journey. As a young boy, he was sold as a slave, ending up in Egypt. By uncompromisingly clinging to his faith, and always having the “d’yukno shel aviv – the image and teachings of his father” before him, he rose to become Viceroy to the Pharaoh, saving the entire nation during a time of famine.

Moshe and Aaron journeyed through the desert with the Jewish people. Each one was a leader in his own right. Moshe was chosen by HaShem to liberate Am Yisroel from Egypt and was a teacher and mentor to the entire nation. Aaron, was the first Kohein Gadol, and had the special virtue of being an ohev sholom, a lover of peace and a rodeph sholom, a pursuer of peace.

Dovid had to run and hide from Shaul, and ultimately became the progenitor of Malchus Dovid, the Davidic dynasty. At times, Dovid HaMelech’s life journey came with challenges and difficulties. Despite it, or precisely because of it, Dovid composed Tehillim, which to this day gives comfort to so many.

On Succos, we recall the faith and fortitude of the Generation of the Exodus. We remind ourselves of the inner strength and trust of the Ushpizin. We leave our secure, comfortable homes for just a little while, and enter the succah. As we gaze through the schach, the succah roof covering, to the heavens above, we realize that HaShem is watching over us, as a father watching over his children, and we have nothing to fear.

Just as we invite the guests from Above, it’s important to open our succahs to “living souls” and fulfill the mitzvah of hachnosas orchim, welcoming guests.

A beautiful story is told of Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski zt”l. Rav Chaim Ozer was already getting on in years, weak and frail. He had a visitor on Succos, and explained to his guest that although he himself was exempt from being in the succah due to his weak health, his visitor should please make use of the succah.

A short time later, Rav Chaim Ozer slowly entered the succah, bringing treats for his guest. The rav explained that though he may be exempt from staying in the succah, he isn’t exempt from the mitzva of welcoming guests.

The Talmud relates that Rav Yocḥanan says: “In the future, the Holy One, Blessed be He, will prepare a succah for the righteous from the skin of the gigantic Leviathan whale. This special succah is to house a banquet for the tzaddikim, the righteous of the world.”

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Barditchev zt”l, also known as the Holy Bardichever, was always careful to invite guests into his succah. Very often they included the homeless and needy. When asked why, he responded, “In the time of Moshiach, when the tzaddikim will be in the succah of the Leviathan, I will want to join them. For sure, I will be stopped – who are you to sit with the righteous?” The Bardichever continued and said, “I will be able to justify my entry, for in my succah, I too invited ordinary Jews to join in our rejoicing of the festival.”

We recite in theMaariv of  Yom Tov, “Ufros Aleinu sukkas rachamim, chaim v’sholom, and spread over us the shelter of compassion, life and peace”.

May this Succos bring peace and tranquility to all of mankind.

Chag Succos Sameach!

Chaya Sora

Chaya Sora can be reached at [email protected]

This article was written L’zecher Nishmas/In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l