The transition from Yom Kippur to Sukkot is characterized by unique smells - the smell of the thatch of the Sukkah, and the aromas of the etrog and myrtles. In every city, the Four Species Market opens, and crowds of the House of Israel come and choose the necessary accessories for the holiday of Sukkot.<\/p>\r\n
Of the four species, it is worth considering the place of the willow. The elegant etrog has a special taste and a wonderful smell. The lulav comes from the palm tree, which produces juicy and sweet dates. The myrtle is a fragrant shrub. But the willow has neither taste nor smell. So what is it even doing here?<\/p>\r\n
Our sages say that the four species represent four types of people in Israel. The etrog symbolizes those who have both Torah and good deeds. The lulav \u2013 those who have Torah but are less distinguished in good deeds. The hadas \u2013 those with good deeds who did not have the privilege of studying Torah. While the arava represents those who have neither Torah nor good deeds.<\/p>\r\n
And again the same question arises \u2013 why give space to people who have nothing positive in them?<\/p>\r\n
The warmest hug<\/strong><\/p>\r\n The truth is that the willow expresses a deeper point than that of the other three species.<\/p>\r\n Imagine a mother talking about her children: "Danny, my eldest, is a successful doctor, a gifted musician, a fine writer. Shlomit is a sought-after lecturer in a variety of fields of knowledge. Nadav is a dedicated warehouseman at the factory, who is highly respected. And my youngest son, Tzachi, neither studies nor works \u2013 but he is my child and I love him.".<\/p>\r\n Notice that it is the last son who receives the mother's warmest embrace. She speaks of him with great love, and says the most important sentence - "He is my child!".<\/p>\r\n For other children, those blessed with virtues and talents, the focus is on their unique qualities and their successes in their fields of endeavor. From this point of view, there are clear differences between children. If children are judged by their talents and success, then the successful and talented child will receive greater love and appreciation.<\/p>\r\n In contrast, the child who has no special virtues or noteworthy skills \u2013 reveals the very independent connection between parents and their children. \"He is my child!\". That's it. Nothing needs to be added.<\/p>\r\n The parents love him not because of his virtues, skills, and successes, but because he is their son, their own.<\/p>\r\n Accept without conditions<\/strong><\/p>\r\n This point is brought to light by the willow. Indeed, the etrog has a taste and a smell. It is the ideal to which one should aspire \u2013 both Torah and good deeds. And so is the lulav, which symbolizes the Torah, and the myrtle, which represents good deeds. All of these express definite virtues, which must definitely be achieved and praised for.<\/p>\r\n But the Arava expresses the deep, fundamental point \u2013 its being an inseparable part of the people of Israel.<\/p>\r\n The willow teaches us to look at others without judgment. To love them not according to their virtues and benefits. To accept them without conditions. Maybe they don't have Torah or good deeds - but they are a brother, flesh of our flesh, an inseparable part of us. And this is the most important point. Happy Holidays!<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u05d3\u05d5\u05d5\u05e7\u05d0 \u05d4\u05d9\u05dc\u05d3 \u05e9\u05d0\u05d9\u05df \u05d1\u05d5 \u05de\u05e2\u05dc\u05d5\u05ea \u05de\u05d9\u05d5\u05d7\u05d3\u05d5\u05ea \u05d5\u05db\u05d9\u05e9\u05d5\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05e8\u05d0\u05d5\u05d9\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05e6\u05d9\u05d5\u05df \u2013 \u05d7\u05d5\u05e9\u05e3 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05e7\u05e9\u05e8 \u05d4\u05d1\u05dc\u05ea\u05d9-\u05ea\u05dc\u05d5\u05d9 \u05e9\u05d1\u05d9\u05df \u05d4\u05d5\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05d9\u05dc\u05d3\u05d9\u05d4\u05dd, \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05d9\u05d5\u05ea\u05d5 \u05e2\u05e6\u05dd \u05de\u05e2\u05e6\u05de\u05dd","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":542602,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[138],"tags":[35717,6238],"class_list":["post-542601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-138","tag-35717","tag-6238"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n