Sicha, 2nd day of Sukkos and Simchas Torah 5726
See Likkutei Sichos vol. 32 Emor 3
A. What Does the Sukkah Commemorate?
The mitzvah of dwelling in the sukkah is defined as a “testimonial mitzvah” meant to recall a historical event, as it says: “You shall dwell in sukkot for seven days… for I caused the Children of Israel to dwell in sukkot when I took them out of the land of Egypt.” However, what are these “sukkot” in which the Jews dwelled? The Talmud presents two opinions: one that these were actual physical huts built by the Jews in the desert, and the other that they were the Clouds of Glory that surrounded and protected them.
The Rebbe asks: according to the opinion that these were literal sukkot, it is clear how sitting in a sukkah today commemorates those sukkot in the desert. But according to the opinion that they were the Clouds of Glory, how does the sukkah remind us of them? Furthermore, regarding timing: the Clouds of Glory began accompanying the people in Nissan, when they left Egypt—so why is Sukkot celebrated in Tishrei? (According to the view that these were literal sukkot, this is understandable, since in Tishrei it begins to get cold, and only then would the Jews have built physical shelters.)
B. A Special Affection
Additional questions:
- Why were the Clouds of Glory specifically chosen for such commemoration, while other essential miracles like the manna or Miriam’s well did not receive a mitzvah in their memory? (Bach)
- If the sukkah is a reconstruction of the Clouds of Glory that surrounded Israel on all sides (including above and below), why does halachah not require building a completely sealed structure with a floor and four complete walls?
The answer can be found in the precise wording of the Alter Rebbe in the Shulchan Aruch HaRav. In contrast to the Beit Yosef, the Alter Rebbe emphasizes two details: he quotes the words “when I took them out of the land of Egypt,” and highlights that the sukkah is meant to create “shade” to protect from the sun.
Emphasizing the timing of dwelling in sukkot (immediately upon leaving Egypt) rejects the opinion that these were literal huts. In Nissan, when the Jewish people left Egypt, there was no need for physical shelters from the cold—and they certainly would not have built such huts then. This indicates that the Torah is referring to the Clouds of Glory.
The emphasis on shade explains the other questions: most of the desert miracles (manna, water, and basic protection through the six clouds) were essential for survival—without them the people could not have endured. G-d provided these as part of His commitment to take the Jews out of Egypt. By contrast, the “shade” provided by the Clouds of Glory was not necessary for survival—a person can survive even in heat—but was meant to provide comfort and ease. The provision of the luxury of shade reveals G-d’s special affection for the Jewish people.
The sukkah does not merely commemorate the salvation from Egypt, but the love that goes beyond strict necessity, the fact that G-d ensured they would not suffer at all along the way. Therefore, it is specifically the shade that was chosen as the centerpiece of the mitzvah, because it most clearly expresses this unique affection.
This is why it is sufficient to have a roof that provides shade, without requiring a fully enclosed six-sided structure; and it is also why no commemoration was established for the manna or the well, which were necessities rather than “luxuries” of love.
