By Rabbi Baruch Lederman
SAN DIEGO — On Simchas Torah one year, Reb Naftoli from Ropshitz saw a man whose mouth did not stop singing and legs would not stop dancing. He was totally immersed in the joy of the celebration of completing the Torah. What Reb Naftoli thought was unusual was that this individual was a simple porter, who knew little of Torah and its study. Reb Naftoli called him over and asked him how come
he was celebrating with such fervor. Did he learn so much this year that his celebration was so enthusiastic? The porter’s answer was what impressed Reb Naftoli. He said “Rebbe – how can my brother make a simcha – a celebration – and I not be happy?!”
The Prince of Mannheim once approached the Netziv, Rabbi Naftoli Berlin, with the following question: Every year at the Seder on Pesach, Jewish children ask their fathers “Mah Nishtana…,” “Why is this night different from all other nights….” Pesach is not the only time Jews perform unusual commandments. On Sukkos, the Jews move out of their comfortable homes and dwell outdoors in a hut.
Shouldn’t this cause a child to ask Mah Nishtana on Sukkos as well?
The Netziv answered that the observances on Pesach are truly different. A child sees actions that are not in accordance with Jewish life. The whole family sits and reclines together at the table with tranquility and performs actions of truly free people. All is done deliberately and with precision and order. This causes a child to wonder what is going on. How is it possible that Jews can live with order, peace, and tranquility? However, on Sukkos, the child sees the family exit their house and take shelter in the Sukkah. For a Jewish child, this is not a strange sight. He knows that the Jews are treated as a lowly nation by others. He knows that the Jews have been forced to constantly wander in exile. He knows that the Jews have never considered their house their permanent home because they may have to move in a moment’s notice to flee persecution. For the child, leaving the home is not a strange sight.
Therefore, the child does not ask Mah Nishtana on Sukkos.
[The foregoing true stories are documented in Torah.org]
*
Rabbi Lederman is spiritual leader of Congregation Kehillas Torah. He may be contacted at baruch.lederman@sdjewishworld.com