Sukkos (Hoshana Rabba / Shemini Atzeres)
Rav Chaim Walkin, ztz”l, quotes the Sefer Mishna Berura, (646: 21) saying that a hadas upon which all the leaves have dried out except for the top three leaves on each branch, remains kosher. Not only are they kosher, but the Chofetz Chaim, ztz”l, paskins that the hadasim have the element of hiddur. It is well known that any of the arba’ah minim that are dried out are pasul. Yet here it seems that three leaves have the power to save the hadasim and elevate them to the status of hadar. How does this work?
Rav Walkin explains this halacha based on a teaching from Rav Yosef Dov Solovechik, ztz”l, about the mitzva of maaser beheima. The farmer has his sheep run through a gate one at a time, marking the tenth one as Kadosh. Rav Solevechik quotes his father-in-law who explained that while it is only the tenth sheep that is ma’aser, were it not for the other nine there would not have been a tenth! In this way the other nine sheep share in the kedusha of the tenth. So too, had it not been for other, now dried out, leaves and the stem of the hadas, the top three leaves would not be where they are today. In this way the top three leaves have the power to redeem and elevate the entire hadas to the level of kosher and mehudar.
Similarly, Chazal teach that one thousand students enter the bais medrash to learn Tanach. From the one thousand, one hundred begin to learn mishna, from those, ten learn Talmud and from those, one becomes a poseik. Certainly, Chazal are not saying that the 999 were just tools for the one. Rather, the one at the top gives additional value and purpose to the 999, without whom the one who became a poseik would not have risen to be the gadol he is today.
Today, Hoshana Rabba, we elevate the arava, the species that symbolizes the Jew who is bereft of Torah and Maasim Tovim. Today the arava elevates us all, and when it is part of the arba’ah minim, it gives the ability for all the minim to be kosher. Rav Walkin concludes that this is the nature of Clal Yisroel. Were it not for the other Jews of all shapes and sizes, strengths and weaknesses, talents and shortcomings, those at the top would not be where they are today, and all of us thereby share in the accomplishments of all of us.
I would add that on Shemini Atzeres the custom is to recite Yizkor for those who have predeceased us.In a way, we who are alive are like the three living leaves at the top of the hadas. Our accomplishments give life to those who are not alive with us now, but without whom we certainly would not be where we are today.
Principle: Were it not for other Jews of all shapes and sizes, strengths and weaknesses, talents and shortcomings, those at the top would not be where they are today, and all of us thereby share in the accomplishments of all of us.
Good Shabbos, Good Yom Tov and a Gutten Kvittel!
Rabbi Goldberg
PS This concludes this year’s “Something to be Principled About.” I hope they were helpful. Thanks for listening!