Festival of Tabernacles AS A PROTOTYPE FOR OUTREACH to The Other
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The Festival of Tabernacles AS A The Festival of Tabernacles AS A PROTOTYPE FOR OUTREACHPROTOTYPE FOR OUTREACH to 'The Other'
"BaSukkot Tayshvu Shivat Yamim,
Kol HaEZRACH (אזרח) BeYisrael Yayshvu BaSukkot"
Parshat HaMoadim (Vayikra 23:42)
Within the above passuk we find two separate statements:
a) we are commanded to dwell in Sukkot for 7 days
AND
b) every EZRACH in Israel should (also) dwell in Sukkot.
The first part is stated in the plural you as a people, you as families, are commanded to dwell in sukkot while the 2nd part starts in the singularHaEzrach -- and ends in the plural Yayshvu --.
Why this shift from singular to plural ?
AND, perhaps more importantly, Who is this EZRACH ?
Why the plural form, in the 2nd part of the verse?
Perhaps because a strong social message is thereby embedded in the text. You are indeed commanded to sit in the Sukkah, but you are simultaneously also responsible to make sure that all EZRACH will sit in Sukkot too!
Taking care of yourself is not enough. Having a Sukkah for yourself is blessed, but not sufficient. You must make sure that ALL Ezrach also have a Sukkah; you must make sure that they all "Yayshvu BaSukkot"!..