It's more than just tradition; it's a lesson in priorities and a reminder of what truly sustains us.
The verse in Leviticus (23:40) instructs us: "You shall take for you on the first day the fruit of a pleasant tree, branches of date palms, and a bough of a leafy tree, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days." But what does it all mean?
Vayikra Rabbah, a Midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) compilation on the Book of Leviticus, dives deep into this verse, and it all starts with a surprising connection to Proverbs: "Take my admonishment, and not silver" (Proverbs 8:10). Rabbi Abba bar Kahana uses this to illustrate a powerful point: we should prioritize the wisdom of the Torah over material wealth. Why spend all your money on things that don't truly nourish your soul? As Isaiah (55:2) asks, "Why do you weigh out silver not for bread?"
The Midrash continues, "Why do you exert yourselves while the nations of the world are satisfied? 'For no satisfaction' – it is because you did not get your fill of the wine of Torah." It's a powerful image: are we chasing after fleeting pleasures while neglecting the true sustenance that comes from Torah study? Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Ḥiyya his father, citing Rabbi Yosei ben Nehorai, even suggest that charity collectors (except for those supporting Torah teachers) will be held accountable if they pressure people excessively. The value of Torah is immeasurable; no amount of money can truly compensate a teacher for the wisdom they impart.
There's a fascinating teaching that from Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), our sustenance for the year is determined, except for what we spend on Shabbat (the Sabbath), holidays, and Torah education for our children. If we increase our spending in those areas, our sustenance increases; if we decrease, it decreases. It’s like the universe is saying, "Invest in what truly matters, and you will be rewarded."
The story of Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba really brings this home. Rabbi Yoḥanan, walking with his student, points out field after field, vineyard after vineyard, olive grove after olive grove – all of which he sold to dedicate himself to Torah study. Rabbi Ḥiyya weeps, concerned that his teacher has left nothing for his old age. But Rabbi Yoḥanan's response is profound: "Is it insignificant in your eyes what I did, that I sold an item that was created in six days and acquired an item that was given in forty days?" He's referring to the Torah, given to Moses on Mount Sinai over forty days, contrasting it with the material world created in six.
The impact of Rabbi Yoḥanan's devotion was clear. After his death, his generation said of him, "If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love… he would be scorned [boz yavuzu lo]" (Song of Songs 8:7). The Yefe To’ar commentary explains this "scorn" as a reference to gaining a portion of the spoils of the war of Gog and Magog – implying that his devotion to Torah earned him an eternal reward. Similarly, the extraordinary honor given to Rabbi Hoshaya of Tireya after his death, with his bier floating in the air, prompted the same verse, emphasizing the unparalleled love the Holy One had for him. And Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon was lauded for his mastery of all aspects of Jewish learning, symbolized by "all the powders of the merchant" (Song of Songs 3:6).
Rabbi Abba bar Kahana concludes with a powerful connection between the mitzvah (commandment) of taking the lulav and the Exodus from Egypt. Just as taking a simple bundle of hyssop in Egypt (Exodus 12:22) – a small act costing only four maot – led to the Israelites acquiring immense wealth, so too does the lulav, which requires a significant investment and fulfills multiple mitzvot (commandments), bring abundant reward.
So, as we wave the lulav and etrog each year, let's remember that Sukkot (the Festival of Tabernacles) isn't just about dwelling in temporary booths. It's a powerful reminder to invest in what truly matters – in Torah, in learning, in spiritual growth. Because, ultimately, those are the things that sustain us, not just for seven days, but for eternity.
“You shall take for you on the first day the fruit of a pleasant tree, branches of date palms, and a bough of a leafy tree, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days” (Leviticus 23:40). “You shall take for you on the first day” – Rabbi Abba bar Kahana began: “Take my admonishment, and not silver” (Proverbs 8:10) – take the admonishment of Torah and not silver. “Why do you weigh out silver not for bread?” (Isaiah 55:2) – why do you weigh out silver for the descendants of Esau?1Why do you have to pay large sums of money in taxes to the Roman government or other foreign governmental authorities, who are considered descendants of Esau? “Not for bread” – it is because you did not get your fill of the bread of Torah. “And your exertion for no satisfaction” (Isaiah 55:2) – why do you exert yourselves while the nations of the world are satisfied? “For no satisfaction” – it is because you did not get your fill of the wine of Torah, as it is written: “Drink of the wine that I mixed” (Proverbs 9:5). Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Ḥiyya his father said in the name of Rabbi Yosei ben Nehorai: It is written: “I will reckon with all his oppressors” (Jeremiah 30:20), even charity collectors,2If they force people to pay more than they can afford to charity (Etz Yosef). other than for the wages of Bible teachers and Mishna teachers, who do not collect wages, but rather reimbursement for lost time. But wages for [teaching even] one matter of Torah, no person is able to pay its wages.3Torah study is so valuable that those who teach Torah can never be truly compensated for what they have imparted to their students. It is taught: From Rosh HaShana, a person’s sustenance is determined, with the exception of his expenditures for Shabbatot, festivals, and the New Moon, and the expenditures of taking the children to school. If he increases, it is increased for him; if he decreases, it is decreased for him.4If a person spends more or less than what could have been expected for these particular causes, God will adjust his yearly income accordingly. Rabbi Yoḥanan was strolling, ascending from Tiberias to Tzippori, and Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba was supporting him. They arrived at a certain field. He said: ‘This field was mine and I sold it in order to acquire Torah.’5I sold it in order to use the funds so I could engage in Torah study. They arrived at a certain vineyard. He said: ‘This vineyard was mine and I sold it in order to acquire Torah.’ They arrived at a certain olive grove. He said: ‘This olive grove was mine and I sold it in order to acquire Torah.’ Rabbi Ḥiyya began weeping. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: ‘Why are you weeping?’ He said to him: ‘Because you did not leave anything for your old age.’ [Rabbi Yoḥanan] said to him: ‘Is it insignificant in your eyes what I did, that I sold an item that was created in six days and acquired an item that was given in forty days, as it is stated: “He was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights” (Exodus 34:28), and it is written: “I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights” (Deuteronomy 9:9)?’ When Rabbi Yoḥanan died, his generation read in his regard: “If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love” (Song of Songs 8:7), the love that Rabbi Yoḥanan had for the Torah, “he would be scorned [boz yavuzu lo].”6He will gain a portion of the plunder [biza] of the war of Gog and Magog (Yefe To’ar). When Rabbi Hoshaya of Tireya died, they saw his bier floating in the air. His generation read in his regard: “If a man would give all the wealth of his house for the love” that the Holy One blessed be He loved Rabbi Hoshaya of Tireya, he would be scorned.7He would be scorned for thinking that money is sufficient to attain this love. When Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon died, his generation read in his regard: “Who is this coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, and with all the powders of the merchant?” (Song of Songs 3:6). What is “with all the powders of the merchant”? It is that he was a master of Bible, of Mishna, liturgy, and homiletics. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: From the reward for taking you derive the reward for taking. In Egypt, it is written: “You shall take a bundle of hyssop” (Exodus 12:22). How much was its price? It was four maot, and it led to Israel taking possession of the plunder at the sea, the plunder of Siḥon and Og, and the plunder of the thirty-one kings [of Canaan]; the palm branch that costs a person a considerable sum of money and includes several mitzvot, all the more so. Therefore, Moses exhorts Israel and says to them: “You shall take for you on the first day.”
