Chazal tell us that the Four Species that we take daily on Succot and the manner in which we take them represent unity in Klal Yisrael, an ingredient that is sorely needed in our day and age.
Rav Chayim Soloveitchik זצ׳ל noted that since the Bes Hamikdash was the gathering of all the leaders of Am Yisrael and the entire Jewish People, it was imperative to stress the need for unity. To emphasize this point we are required to take the Esrog and Lulav for seven days so that the lesson of unity becomes ingrained in our being.
This idea reminds me of a story that I read recently; There was a blind horse named Buddy. The man who owned him was terribly proud of him because Buddy was a very strong horse. One night a car got stuck in a ditch. It's driver saw there was a farm house nearby and knocked on the door and asked for help. The farmer said, "Sure no problem, I have a horse named Buddy who is so strong he will pull your car out of the ditch in no time flat." He went to the barn, got Buddy and hitched him up to the car. Strangely, the farmer started shouting to three other horses who didn't even exist. "Pull Silver, Pull Ginger, Pull Becky,"and then to Buddy, "Pull Buddy" and Buddy pulled the car right out of the ditch.
The man who owned the car was very appreciative and thanked the farmer profusely. And then asked, "Why were you calling other horses' names out? There were no other horses here."
The farmer replied, "I do that every time. You see, if Buddy thought that he was pulling alone he would never have pulled so hard."
When we pull together, we can achieve extraordinary things.
That is our lesson for Succot. Taking the Esrog and Lulav, that represent different types of Jews, with many different ideas and philosophies and when we unite with each other than we are truly one עם״"a people that will survive against all acts of assimilation. These are times when we need to act together. The Jew never pulls alone. We are a unified people, helping each other to achieve our goals in life.
This is one of the most enduring traits of the Jewish People. We are never alone. With G-D as our guiding light, we are a Kehillah Kedosha , a community that shares a holy destiny. This can only be achieved if we continue to be a unified nation that is inclusive and caring for one another.
May this Yom Tov inspire all of us with a greater love for our fellow Jew and may Hashem bless us with, הי יברך את עמו ישראל בשלום.
Wishing everyone a Gabensthe Yaur and a שמחת יום טוב and may we have the Zchut to see in our day and age the, ביאת גואל צדק.
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