The Succah serves as a unifier, connecting everything that dwells within it. Everyone who steps into it immediately forms a bond. We can compare the Succah metaphorically to a womb, and the people dwelling within it to an unborn child. Initially, the distinct parts of the unborn child are undefined, barely recognizable as a future person. However, as time passes in the womb, the fetus starts to take form and all its parts interconnect. Similarly, the Succah functions as the ‘space’ where we establish harmony among ourselves, emerging as a newly united collective.

So, why is the Succah such a unique incubator for unity?

It’s because, at our core, we are all one.

We live in a complex world. To simplify our lives, technology has developed some of the most intricate machinery ever known. However, just like the seven colors of the rainbow are merely refractions of simple white light passing through moisture, behind every sophisticated program lies a simple idea. Each of us expresses a different color in the collective spectrum. If we can bypass our egos and see the world as it genuinely is, we would realize our oneness.

Our ‘differences’ arise from our misconception that our ‘color’ – our identity – can exist independently without any connection. The truth is, we all share a common origin, and the same light that shines on one shines on us all. Unfortunately, we’ve distanced ourselves so far from our source that we’ve forgotten that our differences are nothing more than our unique contributions to the collective whole.

The letter Bais is the first letter of the Torah. It symbolizes duality and complexity, while Aleph, which precedes it, signifies unity and oneness. ‘Two-ness’ refers to the illusion of separation and our ego identity. The more we indulge in this ‘two-ness’, the more we distance ourselves from the ‘one-ness’ of truth.

In spiritual reality, symbolized by Aleph, there’s no separation – all is one.
In the physical realm, represented by Bais, everything appears separate and distinct.

When we fixate on worldly pleasures and physical possessions, we risk becoming self-centered. The more we focus on our individual desires, the more we disconnect from those around us and the divine.

The simplicity of the Succah: nullifying the ego.

Rainbows form when sunlight passes through the moisture in the air following rain. The refracted light is what we see as the rainbow. Similarly, if we remove the illusion of separation between us, there would be nothing left but the restored peace of the unified soul.

The Succah symbolizes simplicity. It embodies the divine light that envelops us when we set aside worldly attachments and use them only as a means to connect with the divine. By stepping out of our fast-paced, worldly lives and dwelling in the Succah, we embrace the gift of simplicity.

The transient nature of the Succah reminds us of the impermanence of the world. When we internalize this, we can focus on unity: between us, the divine, and all of humanity. This unity brings liberation, enabling us to see past the surface and into each other’s souls.

We are all different, with diverse opinions, methods of communication, and spiritual paths. Yet, we can unite when we acknowledge that we originate from the same source, are reflections of the same truth, and are working towards the same goal. When the goal is the same, the process of reaching it becomes less significant.

The Succah teaches us that the external world, physicality, complexity, and our egos, are all transient. There is a deeper, more truthful, and infinitely more unified reality that exists behind the facade of the physical world. It inspires us to tap into our deepest desires, which at their core are identical for all of us – to make the world a better place and connect to the divine by living a life of righteousness.

Stepping aside to allow the divine in.

In order to achieve true unity with the divine, we must first foster unity among ourselves. The divine presence rejects the space of an arrogant person. When we are absorbed in our egos, we cannot possibly find the divine. When we extend our love to our fellow beings and put aside our differences, we make room for the divine to join us in the Succah.

The Succah is likened to a mother bird guarding her hatchlings. The divine is our loving parent, and we are its children. We all originate from the same source and share an intimate connection. The day we begin respecting one another, refraining from negativity, and acting as one family, the divine, our universal parent, will join us in our celebration.

The Succah of peace serves as a constant reminder of unity, offering us a powerful message. Each time we dwell within it, we are reminded of our oneness and challenged to be better humans, better friends, better children of the divine. It serves as a reminder of the impermanence of our worldly lives and the opportunity to embrace a more elevated state of consciousness, akin to a taste of the world to come.

For more on the Succah and Succos see Succos titled: Succos Inspired: Discovering Depth, Joy, and Meaning available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Succos-Inspired-Discovering-Depth-Meaning/dp/1937887510