This is the piece on Sukkos

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rabbi Mitterhoff,

The Gemarrah in sukkos 37b says the reason we shake the Luluv up and down and 4 sides is because we do it for the one who owns the heaven and earth and 4 corners of the earth (Hashem). The question is: Of course we are doing it for Hashem, we are not doing it for our health.

The Gemmarah then states that we do it to ward away bad dews (up and down) and bad winds (4 sides) (Hurricane Ivan). From this we see that the leftover of mitzvos holds back punishment (Poronius: from the root Poreah, to pay back .e. in our case , paying back for sin.) The question is: how does this work? If the person deserves punishment he should get it,and get the reward for his Mitzvah as a second account

The Gemarah in Berachos 20b says that the angles asked Hashem a contradiction in the Torah. In one place it says that Hashem doesn't show ny favor in judgment, but in the blessing of the Kohanim it says that Hashem should show them favor. Hashem answered, I told them eat and be satisfied and bless me and they are stringent on themselves up to an olive size and egg size.

The Vilna Goan in Mishlei explains it that I told them they can eat their hole meal and be satisfied, which according to the Gemmarah in Eiruvin is the size of 9 dried figs. The Zohar says there is 10 olives and 3 eggs in 9 dried figs. But they are stringent on themselves to split their meal among 9 other people, so each one will have an olive size, so they can bless with a Ziman (Quarum) of 10, or if that is not possible, at least split it among 2 other people , which each would receive an egg's size, so you can have a regular ziman with 3 people.

There are 2 ways of viewing serving Hashem. One way is you have to do it or you'll get punished, so you do it so Hashem will "get off your back." The second way, that you care for Hashem and you want to serve Him correctly.The first one has a business deal with Hashem, to him there is no showing favors, business is business. The second one has a relationship with Hashem, thus being Hashem's friend, Hashem shows him favor. When someone is in a business deal, once he does what he needs to do he's out the door, in a relationship you always do more, because you care for them to have the best,thus he gives up from himself so he'll have the best type of Birchas Hamazon (Grace after meals)he can get.

The same by Luluv,where you done the Mitzvah by just picking it up, when you shake it to show you're doing for Hashem, that means you're doing extra because you want Hashem to receive your Mitzvah of Luluv in the best way, not that you are doing it for yourself to get Hashem off your back. Since you go the extra step to shake the Luluv, more than just taking it, (which makes it the leftover of the Mitzvah, since you don't need it to do the Mitzvah, only it's the best way to do the Mitzvah) that shows you have a relationship with Hashem, thus Hashem can show favor to you in his judging, and it prevents punishments.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rabbi Mitterhoff,

Thankyou for the detailed explanations of lulav. How about the etrog too? Meaning, historical references etc.