Sukkot: The Belief of the Ushpizin

Sukkos 5787 – Duvi Lemmer

Sukkos and the Ushpizin, let’s focus for a few moments and let’s see what comes up. What is the one thing that unites the seven Ushpizin together? Well, the answer may be a “duh,” but it is nonetheless true. The answer is, “Belief in Hashem!”

In every Shemonah Esrei that we Daven we say, “Baruch Atah Hashem, Elokeinu Velokei Avoseinu, Hashem, You are blessed, You are our Lord and the Lord of our fathers. [You are] the Lord of Avraham, the Lord of Yitzchak, the Lord of Yaakov…” The Gemara in Brachos 34b states that one must have proper Kavanah, intention, during the Bracha of Avos for his Tefillah to be counted. Many people fall away at these words since they have no clue what to think about.

Before we explain the right Kavanah and tie it back to the Ushpizin, we’ll go on a little excursion in our minds. You know how you can find yourself driving your car on the way to pick up your kid from school and at the same time you are on your phone with a friend. There are three obvious simultaneous thoughts going on at the same time: driving the car, talking to the friend, and picking up your child. It is a fact that there can be many systems operating at once; we simply have to be attuned to our thoughts.

What happens if the conversation becomes deep or serious? Then that moves to the forefront of the mind, driving takes a back seat, and your kid can wait until their turn arrives. The problem will be if this driver is new to the road, where driving isn’t embedded into their bones, and they still have to think in steps: “I need to lift my foot off the gas, move it to the brake, and press lightly enough so I don’t make a short stop.” This phone call, even if the phone isn’t in the hand, will be a total distractive and destructive force. But I digress.

We can have many simultaneous thoughts. The more important ones are at the forefront while the other ones go into autopilot and preprogramming mode. A good driver will find themselves at their destination albeit the thought-provoking conversation. And when they arrive at the school the thought priorities will shift to the task at hand. The conversation will no longer flow as deeply since looking out the window for the kid will be distracting them from it.

When we reach the part in Avos when we say, “Elokei Avraham,” it truly depends how attuned we are to our thoughts in order to acknowledge more than one thought. A friend of mine told me that when he gets to Avraham, he thinks of Avraham’s Middah, character trait, Chessed, Yitzchak’s Gevurah, Yaakov’s Tiferes. Those are all nice thoughts to have, but now they have another problem: they don’t know what these Middos even mean! So, for us simpletons, it is best to leave the concept of the Middos as a background thought which can be acknowledged as being there, but the “priority thought” has to be one that continues our original flow of thought.

We already know that our thoughts dictate our emotions. Whatever thoughts we entertain will have a direct effect on our feelings. So as we learn to gain awareness of thought we can simply snatch the bad thought and shift our focus onto something better. My go-to trick in such moments is to say to myself, “Is there anything better I can be thinking of right now?” Then I focus on the new thought for about ten to twenty seconds and the old thought is gone, possibly forever depending on how “important” it is.

When we start Shemona Esrei we open with a blessing to Hashem our Lord and Lord of our fathers. We continue the thought as follows: “You are the Lord Avraham Avinu believed in, while being in Nimrod’s furnace, while leaving his homeland and father’s house, while Sarah was taken by Pharaoh, while facing off against the four mighty kings, while bringing Yitzchok as a Korban. It is in all of those stories that he believed in Hashem. You don’t have to start thinking of all of them every single time, although you can, but don’t let your lips keep moving and end up waking up at Modim while you’re thinking of those stories. Allow the first story of Avraham to enter your mind, and you’ll be surprised how at each Tefillah you’ll have another connection between Avraham and Hashem.

Do the same with Elokei Yitzchak and Elokei Yaakov. Think about the belief Yitzchak had at the Akeidah, the love he had for Hashem when he lost his mother, the trust he walked with as he raised Eisav, the courage he had to rebuke Avimelech as his servants stole the water wells. And Yaakov’s Emunah as he fled from his brother, and the fortitude when he had to deal with Lavan the cheat, the undying belief in Hashem when he grieved his beloved Rachel, and the eternal hope to see his Yoseph once more.

Those stories are the “priority thoughts” as we continue our flow of thought into “The Holy Eighteen.”

Let’s continue. “Hakeil Hagadol Hagibor Ve’Hanora, He is the Lord, the Big, the Strong, and Awe-some.” This is actually verbatim of Moshe Rabbeinu’s words in Devarim 10:17 as he recounts the greatnesses of Hashem and commands us to follow His ways. Moshe learned those “Everlasting (Netzach)” traits of Hashem throughout his loyal and faithful life. His faith grew when he witnessed how big Hashem is as He brought about the plagues on Egyptians. He learned how strong Hashem is as he saw the miraculous salvation at Yam Suf. And how Awe-some Hashem is was embedded into him at the giving of the Torah on Sinai. There are so many stories to attribute to Moshe’s life, but the core is the same: focus on these stories to strengthen your belief.

“El Elyon, the Almighty and Heavenly Lord.” This moves us to Aharon and his Godly trait of Hod. We praise Hashem, the Hashem to Whom Aharon raised himself on the three steps at the Menorah. The Heavenly Hashem Whom Aharon felt indebted to since the Eigel, and the correct Judge who took two of his children away in his lifetime. We bless the same Hashem, the one he believed in and the Only One Who brought him comfort and consolation. And with this faith he was able to bring peace among the people to stop the death plagues and the marital disputes. It is Hashem with this light (Hod) that we are grateful (Hod) toward.

You already see where we are going next, Yoseph. “Gomel Chassadim Tovim, He rewards good kindness.” Yoseph had a life that was beyond our wildest imagination. He kept his faith strong when he lost his dear mother’s touch, he remained resilient as his words were silenced by his brothers, he remained fearful of Anochi Hashem during the test of Lo Tachmod, he refrained from minute pleasures while in the dark cellars and relied on Hashem’s rope during his prison sentence. His resolve and commitment to Hashem was unshakeable even when fame and riches came his way. His life was a feat that is impossible to pull off by one without true and undying faith. He knew very well that his reward will be showered upon him from Hashem, not because he needed it, but because Hashem is good and kind!

Ahh… “Vekonei Hakol!, He owns everything!” Who is truly king (Malchus) of the world? One Who has it all and has it all to give! Our beloved King David lived with the presence of Hashem before his mind, heart, and soul at all times. Throughout the shame and mockery from his brothers, and the apprenticeship at king Shaul’s palace. As he ran from Shaul and as he fought the nation’s enemies. Throughout his sickness and pains, and throughout his children’s rebellions.

To David, being king meant emulating Hashem’s Kingship to the letter. He pursued Torah and Mitzvos. He yearned and achieved emotional stability through his praise and sacrifices. He grew to the highest of heights as he lived in the tower whose foundation was rooted deeply in the ground. The wonderful pull and shove of having it all and giving it all away, the high’s and the low’s, the start, stop, and start all over again, oh! What a life he lived. Oh! What Godly Emunah he did possess.

We have many stories that resemble all of those the Ushpizin lived through. And with the belief that they had, we hereby come and bless Hashem for “Vezocher Chasdei Avos U’meivi Go’el Livnei B’neihem Lema’an Shemo B’Ahava, Remembering the kindnesses of our fathers and bringing redemption to their children’s children. All because His Name is One of love and through love He is known!”

As we step into the Sukkah, and Sukkos for that matter, no matter if it rains or if you are sitting in a penthouse overlooking the old city in Yerushalayim’s brisk air, resonate with the belief that those amazing characters lived with their entire life. Acknowledge that they too were human beings who faced challenges and that “Hashem the King supported them in their goals, helped them through their missions, and shielded them in their internal and external battles!”

“Baruch Ata Hashem, Magen Avraham, Hashem! You are blessed, for You have protected our father Avraham throughout his life!” And for this reason I am here, praising You, today!

Sukkos, as the fourth Rashi in Mesechet Sukkot (2a) notes, is named for the sake of the “S’chach” that covers the entire structure. What you are looking to gain in those days is to reconnect with the One hovering above you all the time. Hashem Who was on top of those mighty figures of times past and covered them in their easy and hard days. He shielded them from rain and storm and glowed upon them as they cherished their every breath.

The opportunity we have in this lifetime is one beyond measure. Look at the greatness of Hashem, review those stories and see that although you may be having a rough day and your “thought priorities” may be mixed up, He is the One and Only Who can and will help you out. Don’t take the result into your own hands, don’t force pleasure upon yourself through hitting the rock, call out to His name and you will see your salvation.

So, whenever you find yourself low and say to yourself, “Is there something better I can be thinking about right now?” The answer is, duh! Hashem! May He be the first thought that comes to you as your mind runs blank, as David Hamelech says in Tehillim 119:55: “When my mind is blank my first thought is Hashem’s name, I will keep Your holy ways, and Your love I will exclaim!” From Avraham to David, and from David to you, yearn to be connected to Hashem with an undying belief, for only so will you be covered in all occasions, locations, and your life will be filled with appreciation! 

David “Duvi” Lemmer

Chag Sameach

Good Shabbos

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