Parshas Noach: Greeting Winter

We have just welcomed in the Hebrew month of Cheshvan, a month eerily devoid of celebration and pomp. The silence is all the more deafening if we glance back at last month’s endless festivities.

Let us recap the meaning of last month’s celebrations, and contrast it with this month’s blandness. Rabbi Shimshon Pincus explains that Succos rides on the heels of Yom Kippur. In fact, the three weeks beginning Rosh Hashana through Shmini Etzeres, is one continual ascent of connection with G-d. The emphasis of the first ten days of repentance is on repentance out of awe for G-d. The four days between Yom Kippur and Succos are the sin-free days during which are occupied with preparing for Succos. The final week of Succos and Shmini Atzeres is focused on repenting out of love for G-d.

We began a process of repentance at the beginning of the month of Elul. We reasserted our allegiance to G-d on Rosh Hashanah. For those ten days leading up to Yom Kippur we prepared ourselves for the ultimate renewal which occurs on Yom Kippur. On Yom Kippur, our sins weren’t merely expiated; we were infused with a new existence. How do we sanctify and preserve this new existence? Immediately following Yom Kippur we grab as many mitzvahs as possible. That night we begin building the Succah, we bless the new moon, and we buy the four species. We must catch the momentum.(Midrash Vayikra Rabba 30:7) Following the four days of spiritual rejuvenation in our renewed existence, we enter our Succah and greet the spiritual guests of Ushpizin: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moshe, Aaron, and David. We show our ancestors that they should be getting some nachas from us!

We then lifted up the four species which were purchased after endless hours of peering at different esrogs through a magnifying glass, and checking the fine point of the lulav. The Midrash (Tanchuma Emor siman 18) enlightens us to the deeper meaning of the four species on Succos. The Torah tells us "take for yourselves the four species." Why is the emphasis on "for yourselves?" We just concluded the Day of Judgment. Only G-d knows which nation emerged victorious. We therefore walk out of judgment, and immediately lift up the palm branch as our sword of victory to leave the world no doubt. We then celebrated Simchas Torah, when the Jewish nation alone spent one final day together with G-d.

Now what? Perhaps the following story will set out a mission for us all. (I heard the story second hand) Josh was in a deep slumber, and suddenly in his dream, his little sister who had passed away as a young girl appeared. She explained that since there was a family celebration, she was granted permission to come to this world to be present at the celebration. She therefore was able to visit her brother as well. She then told him that the reason she died young was because a heavenly decree was cast against their family. She unceremoniously revealed to him that he was next in line to go. He asked when his time was up. She said, “right now. I have been allowed to welcome you into the next world.” He began screaming. “No, there is no way. I have a wife and two kids. I am way too young to die.” She said that she had nothing to do with the decree; she was just present to ease his departure. He began yelling. “Go to the heavenly court and tell them that I was always overly meticulous in honoring my parents. The Torah tells us that the reward is longevity. Please go to them.” After much cajoling she agreed. She left, and after some time she reappeared. “The heavenly court was very upset with me for mixing in, but they agreed to give you more time on this earth. “How long?” he asked. She replied, “That much they didn’t tell me.” With that he woke up. He turned to the side of his bed, and he saw his wife on the floor clutching the phone, sobbing bitterly. “Honey, are you alright?” She looked up and began palpitating. “Josh, is that you. For the past few minutes you haven’t been breathing, and I couldn’t find your pulse. I just got off the phone with 911!

We were just granted a new lease on life on Yom Kippur. We rushed to grab as many mitzvos as possible in the ensuing days. Now however, we are back to the humdrum of our everyday life. We must make our case to be granted life. How would we plead in front of the heavenly court to give us another chance? Let us not make Noah’s mistake. As soon as he emerged from the Ark he became intoxicated and isolated himself from society. He retreated into himself, and just couldn’t bear the thought of the great obligation that comes with a new lease on life. Let us take the opportunity of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan, and seek to incorporate those great highs that we had during the month of Tishrei onward for the entire year.