Succos is an integral part of the teshuvah process of Tishrei. After the cleansing work of Rosh Hashanah on Succos we are enveloped in Hashem’s loving embrace. Chazal compare Succos to nisuin with the Jewish People in the role of the bride entering the marital home.
Succos is also the culmination of another great theme of Tishrei — Jewish unity. On Rosh Hashanah our primary service consists of crowning HaKadosh Baruch Hu as King over us. And unity among us is a prime measure of our success in doing so. To the extent that the King’s subjects are united in loyalty to Him will they be united in common purpose with one another.
In the Talmud Torah of Kelm from Rosh Chodesh Elul there hung a poster yellowed by age inscribed with this message from the Alter: “All the Rosh Hashanah prayers are designed to glorify the Kingdom of Heaven and we for our part are called upon to crown the L-rd King of Kings. With what shall we crown Him? With love for others and charitable acts as Moshe said in his parting blessing: ‘There will be a King in Yeshurun when the leaders of the people gather together with tribes of Israel as one.’ ”
Though we pass before the Ribbono shel Olam individually ki’vnei maron our case for the renewal for another year of our mission depends in large part on the extent to which we have made the lives of all those around us better by virtue of our presence.
