Dressing for a Spiritual First Date: The Essence of Sukkos, and the Arba Minim

0:01 Like a news anchor, looking the camera in the eye and telling over a very grim report about an attempted homicide that was prevented, but then, finishing the report, turning his chair, swiveling to a different teleprompter and telling the story to the world about how the pandas at the local zoo have given birth to twins. We too are commanded to swivel our mood from one of intensity, one of judgment, from Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, to now move into Zaman Simchoseinu, a very open and happy, airy, jubilant holiday, one that we call Sokess.

0:43 They testified about the brisker of that. In the snap of a finger, his face went from seriousness, that mood of Yom Kippur, to then boom, total, open, jubilant happiness, zaman Simchoseinu. And you will notice that in these days leading up to Sokess there's a certain hustle bustle about the Jewish world. More traffic, fathers out looking for their Luluv and Esroke, mothers out finding the perfect decorations, the children cajoling their parents. I want a better Simchoseinu to hold a little toro.

1:23 I want a better Luluv. Everybody is trying to make sure that the yon-tif food is perfect, that the garb and attire is proper for Sokess. How come? By Sokess it seems that perfection is just at a different level and everybody wants it, even one black dot on an Esred will just possil it. You don't see individuals lining up outside of a matzabakery to find every single perfect matzah, only the very scrupulous chassidah. But everyone's involved by Sokess. Why, well, we begin because the Possek does say, quite succinctly and directly ule kach dem lochem pri et hadar.

2:06 Hadar. Take a beautiful Esroke. Hasnua l'ifon of bemitz must make the mitzvost beautiful. But still, why Sokess doesn't say hadar by matzahs? And it seems the reason is because if we have internalized the message of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, then we really have turned over a new leaf. We really have a different name. We are a new person, we are born again like a child. So now this is our first attempt, our first opportunity to bring a garb on a reach nichayich lahashem, our first mitzvah, luluv and Esred. And what better way to start than by doing our best and putting our right foot forward.

2:48 Like a first date, you get all dressed up. So, hasnua l'ifon of bemitzvost, we want the best to come to Hashem with. On Sokess, we want the best Sokess, we want the best Yom Tivatair, we want to make sure that we have this flawless fulfillment of Hashem's rotsum. The same way, qayan and Hel right at the beginning of time. The difference was one brought a beautiful sacrifice, the others was okay, but it wasn't beautiful. So as you take your first steps as a new child being born again after Yom Kippur, have snoil of fun of bemitzvost. See that the only thing that does truly matter is the spiritual world and the currency is mitzvost.

3:31 So do it right, put your best foot forward, get all dressed up for your wedding, get ready for the first opportunity to please accomplish baruch, and beautify yourself with Hashem's rotsum.