16/10/2024
The medrash states that one of the reasons why we are instructed to live in a Sukkah just a few days after Yom Kippur, is as a precautionary measure. In case, Heaven forbid, it was decreed upon us during Yom Kippur, the punishment of galut, exile, we take matters into our own hands and exile ourselves from our homes into the sukkah. Hashem will view this as if we were exiled to Bavel and will forgive us our sins. This medrash is difficult to understand, for the only transgression that carries with it the consequence of exile is one of accidental manslaughter! How many of us have G-d forbid, killed anyone over the last year that we may be deserving of exile?!
The answer is that in Hashem’s eyes, embarrassing others, showing intolerance toward one another, destroying a person’s reputation because he believes in one thing and I believe in another, these sins are akin to killing a person! With the level of intolerance and animosity that tore our people apart before October 7th, and with the continued pockets of intolerance and infighting that unfortunately we still see among our people, albeit to a far lesser degree, we may have earned ourselves a negative degree this past Yom Kippur. And although the suffering we have endured has certainly provided a strong atonement for our sins, who’s to say that our atonement is complete? As long as this war continues and we are suffering terrible casualties, we must do more to show Hashem that we are worthy of full atonement and thereby immediate redemption.
Going into exile is a very powerful step toward teshuva and atonement. Hashem has made it easy in this regard. “You don’t need to exile yourselves to Bavel to be oppressed by the gentiles! Exile yourselves into a beautiful sukka and feel the holiness of what a relationship with Me can provide!”, says Hashem.
Let’s exile ourselves into the sukkah with our hearts open wide, so that we may receive the final atonement we need to finally bring our full redemption with the coming of Mashiach today!
Chag Samayach!
