The backyard of the Grossman home was full of energy as the final branches were laid across the roof of their wooden Sukkah. Inside the booth, Mrs. Chana Grossman was arranging the table setting with her daughters, Rivky and Mussia while her husband, Rabbi Yosef Grossman, inspected a velvet-lined box on the table with his son, Mendy.
"Tatty, look how thick the schach is this year!" Mendy said, pointing up at the unprocessed pine branches above them. "You can still see tiny patches of sky, just like it's supposed to be."
" Im Yirtzeh HaShem, it’s a Sukkah," Yosef smiled, checking the three sturdy walls one last time. "You know, Mendy, when we step inside this hut for the next seven days, we’re remembering the 40 years our ancestors wandered in the desert after leaving Mitzrayim. HaShem surrounded them with Clouds of Glory to protect them, and He also gave us the harvest to celebrate."
Rivky stepped down from her chair, admiring the decorations. "And for seven days and nights, we eat all our meals right out here! Though, Tatty, what about people who live in tiny apartments and don't have a backyard or room to build a Sukkah outside?"
That's a great question, Rivky," Chana said as she placed a fresh tablecloth over the table. "If building a Sukkah outside isn't possible because there's no room, someone can make an Sukkah on their balcony. Of course, here we aim to spend as much time as possible in our Sukkah, eating, reading, and learning Torah, though at the very least, everyone tries to eat inside on the first two nights.
Are we going to sleep out here too?" Yitzy asked hopefully.
Yosef chuckled, shaking his head. "Not us, Yitzy. In our Chabad custom, we don't sleep in the Sukkah, even though in many other communities it’s a big custom to do so. We have plenty of mitzvos to keep us busy during the day!"
Speaking of mitzvos," Avromy said, eyeing the velvet box on the table. "Can we look at the Arba Minim?"
Of course," Yosef said, carefully opening the box to reveal the four kinds: the lulav, hadassi, aravos, and the bright yellow esrog. "Before buying the four kinds, we always have a rav check to make sure everything is completely kosher. Every single day of Sukkos, except on Shabbos, we perform the mitzvah of taking the Arba Minim."
And girls can shake them too, right?" Rivky asked.
Absolutely," Chana smiled. "While men are obligated in the mitzvah, women and girls definitely perform it as well. Every morning, your father lets us take a turn before he heads to shul."
Show me how to hold them again, tatty," Mendy asked eagerly.
Yosef picked up the bound lulav in his right hand, making sure the spine was facing toward him, and took the esrog in his left hand. "Just like this," he explained. "Once you bring them together, the mitzvah is done! It's especially important to do this early on the first day of Sukkos. Then, we have the custom to wave the Arba Minim in all six directions, south, north, east, up, down, and west, to show that HaShem is everywhere."
"And then we take them to shul for the morning services," Mendy added proudly, "so we can wave them again during Hallel and the Hosha'anos ceremony!"
You've got it," Yosef nodded. "You know, the Rebbe always emphasized that unity is one of the most important parts of Sukkos. Think about the Arba Minim: the esrog has both taste and smell, representing a Jew with both Torah knowledge and good deeds. The lulav has taste but no smell, the hadassim have smell but no taste, and the aravos have neither. Yet, the mitzvah isn't complete unless all four are bound together as one."
Yosef looked around at his family inside the cozy walls of the Sukkah and smiled. "As the Rebbe taught, 'In the Sukkah, all Jews are equal; there are no distinctions between scholar and simple person, rich and poor, one roof covers them all in complete unity.' Every single Jew is essential, and together we bring HaShem's blessing into the world."
Rivky smiled at the thought, while Yitzy suddenly grinned with excitement. "And my favorite part comes at the very end, on Hoshana Rabba, the last day of Sukkos, when we get to take the aravos and smash them against the ground!"
Chana laughed as the scent of the soup drifted out from the kitchen window. "We still have a whole week of joyful meals before Hoshana Rabba gets here, Mendy! Come on, everyone, let's wash up, it's almost time to light the candles and welcome the holiday."