The holiday of Sukkot-Oh’ so sweet!

In order to get a deeper understanding of our current incredible time period, I would like to briefly introduce a spiritual model from the Baal Shem Tov and then apply it to the “Days of Awe”. One of the most important principles of Toras HaBaal Shem Tov is the dynamic that is called “Hachnah, Havdalah and Hamtaka” or in English “Submissiveness, Separation and Sweetening”. ( This idea is brought down in Keser Shem Tov and in the writings of the Toldos Yaakov Yoseph, a prime disciple of the Baal Shem Tov).

This model provides a dynamic attempt to put the physical world first “in its place” and then ultimately utilize it for the service of Hashem which is the ultimate purpose of creation. However, our relationship with the physical world is a tricky one. One one hand we are encouraged not to get too caught up in physicality. And there are some very good reasons for this. The physical world naturally pulls at us a lot more than the spiritual world and within it lies the great danger of forgetting Hashem and our main task in life. So taking a step back from the physical world definitely has a place.

However, here is where things can be tricky. While at times we may need to take a step away from the physical in order to maintain a strong connection to the spiritual-if we take too big a step away it can be dangerous. First of all we live in the physical world and must stay connected to it in order to remain physically and emotionally healthy. Moreover, the ultimate purpose of Torah and Mitzvot is to elevate the physical world.  For this reason the overwhelming majority of Mitzvot involve the physical world from the wool that we use for Tzitzis to the tree branch that we can use for the schach of our Sukka. The Torah clearly wants us to utilize the physical world and elevate it.

And here is where the model of the Baal Shem Tov can be so helpful. The first step is “hachnah”-submissiveness. At this step, we try to put the physical world in its place or any negative attribute from our physical drives that we are attempting to refine.  One may focus on how temporary physical pleasures are at this stage or how a particular negative trait is so damaging.

Then comes the next stage called “Havdalah”-separation. At this point one distances himself to a degree from the physical and tries to escape so to speak from the negative elements that caused him to falter. The genius in the Baal Shem Tov’s approach however is that he does not view the stage of separation as an ultimate goal but rather as a vital step in the long path towards perfection.

And ‘perfection’ is only achieved when one begins to actualize the ideas behind the third level that is called “hamtaka”-sweetening. At this stage, one begins to return more to  the physical world. He is ready to re-engage even those parts of the physical world that he struggled with in the past. However, without the hard work in the previous stages of “submissiveness” and “separation” it might be difficult to do this in a healthy, balanced way. But this model teaches us that the purpose of our avodah is not to separate from the physical ( even though at times this may be necessary). Rather the purpose is to elevate it. And when this happens life becomes really sweet! For there is nothing that is absent from the service of Hashem. However, just like a fruit is not sweet until it is fully ripe, so too we also have to be fully ready for this third stage in order to experience its sweetness.

So, after introducing this model from the Saba Kadisha, I think we can now get a better appreciation of this time of year and also begin to realize why specifically the holiday of Sukkot is the pinnacle of this awesome time period.

Let us begin: Rosh Hashanah  is when we accept upon ourselves Hashem’s rulership. The main theme of the day is Hashem’s ‘malchus’ ( kingship). When we accept Hashem’s kingship and truly realize that our entire life is dependent on His will, this is the greatest form of “hachna” or submissiveness. This puts our ego and physical drives in place and creates a very serious attitude which fits with the spiritual energy of Rosh Hashanah.

On Yom Kippur, we take this one more step. We seperate from the physical world, by not eating etc. and strive to be like angels. Recognizing that the physical world can at times hide Hashem’s presence and cause us to feel distant and stumble, we seperate from this block in a very major way. This corresponds perfectly with the second stage of the Baal Shem Tov’s model-“havdalah”, separation.

However, as mentioned before, the ultimate goal is not to seperate from the physical but to elevate it. And this is where the holiday of Sukkot plays such an important role.For the Sukka is one of the few mitzvot that completely encompasses the entire person. Moreover, the Sukka encompasses a person’s entire daily life. One eats in the Sukka. One sleeps in the Sukka. One socializes in the Sukka. תשבו כעין תדורו is the statement of our Sages extolling us to live in the Sukka just as we live in our own home. However, in the Sukka everything is elevated to Godliness! Our meal is a mitzvah. Our nap is a mitzvah. Our whole physical life expresses itself in a miniature Beis Hamikdash, the צלא דהימנותא, the shade of Emunah.

This matches perfectly with the third stage of the Baal Shem Tov’s model, “hamtaka”, sweetening. Because on the holiday of Sukkot we do not separate from the physical but rather elevate it. To do this properly, however, one first needs the extensive preparation of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. However, fasting on Yom Kippur is not the ultimate goal of creation! The ultimate goal is to eat in the Sukka! And since our physical body can participate in this mitzvah this is why the holiday of Sukkot is the time in which the Torah emphasizes the most ‘simcha’, joy. Because true joy comes from ‘shleimus’ wholeness. And true wholeness is only when there is a healthy harmony between the physical and the spiritual.

Chag Sameach and a Gut Yom Tov!!

-Ariel

arielgalian613@gmail.com