Succos - 5778

Succos - 5778

Rabbi Hal Miller

I have built You a habitation, an eternal foundation for Your dwelling."

[2 Kings 8:13]

​Our verse comes from the haftorah of the second day of the holiday. King Solomon is

describing his conversation with G-d. What is this habitation that he mentions? How is

it related to Succos?

Nechama Leibowitz cites R' Dovid Hoffman, who defines it, "​

Beit zvul A house of

habitation. This term is used only to refer to G-d's abode in Heaven or in the Temple.

This it implies a place of the highest sanctity."

Another place we see the word is in the name of the founder of the tribe Zevulun. Why

was he named that? In Bereishis [30:20] Leah says,

"Now my husband will make his

permanent home with me" upon this birth.

Referring to the Temple, Rashi calls it, "

The foundation for Your dwelling forever."

Then, in

Mishnah Succah [2:9], it says, "All seven days a man is obligated to make his

succah his permanent home, and to make his house his temporary home."

Adding these together, it is our duty to keep the commandments such as Succah as

a permanent tie to the holiness that Hashem has placed upon us.

May we always be able to maintain the meaning and holiness of the succah!