We are discussing the different Succot mindsets.
The first, simple mindset is that G-d took us out of Egypt and put us in the clouds of glory. We remember those clouds of glory when we sit in the Succah.
The second mindset we discussed is that we are celebrating the happiness we feel after receiving forgiveness from G-d on Yom Kippur.
Another mindset to have is that we run into the Succah as though seeking refuge from G-d, after any possible bad decrees of Yom Kippur.
The next mindset is based on a pesikta from the Tannaim that says that Heaven forbid, if there was a decree of Galut placed on the Jewish people; if they had to leave their land, or their homes, then by going into the Succah and leaving their homes in that way, that would be considered the fulfillment of the decree of exile.
This is an unbelievable concept. G-d, in his great mercy, at times considers smaller things as greater things. As the term says,
מקצת הנפש ככל הנפש
A little bit of the soul is like all of the soul.
That means that if someone stubbed his toe, and bled, and he was supposed to lose his life, G-d says, he bled, that’s enough. It’s unbelievable- God uses smaller things to forgive greater things!
The Pele Yoetz says we should think about this when we sit in the Succah.
While we are sleeping and eating in the Succah, it may be quite cold. But we should consider that this could be in place of decree to sleep outside on a park bench! We should say, “Thank G-d. What a great way to get rid of the park-bench decree- by sleeping or eating in our Succah on the porch!”
He says this principle applies in other ways, not only to the Succah. Anytime we accept, with happiness, G-d’s decree on small level, it counts big.
He uses business trips as an example. When someone has to take red-eye flights, deal with delays, sleep in hotels, and can’t be home with his family or sleep in his own bed... He should think that this is Galut- that he has to leave his house, and go on the road.
All of these minor things can count for a greater kaparah, if you have it in mind. The Pele Yoetz even goes so far as to say that if you get kicked out of the kitchen while your wife is cleaning for pesach, that also counts as Galut. As long as you have these things in mind. His words are:
מה לי כל נפש מה לי מקצת נפש......, מה לי גלות גדול מה לי גלות מועט, הכל עולה לחשבון, ובלבד שיכון לבו לכך ולקבולינהו באהבה רבה:
“I don’t care about the whole soul or a part of soul,” G-d says, “I don’t care whether it’s a big exile or a small exile. It all adds up, as long as you have the proper intent, and accept it with love.”
Another example I’d like to give, of how G-d considers smaller things like bigger things is when someone gets embarrassed.
When someone is embarrassed, blood leaves his face, and G-d considers that like a type of death. So, when a person gets insulted and accepts it, this can undo decrees as well.
My brother-in-law heard the following beautiful story from his havruta, (we’ll call him Shimon) who in turn heard it from the person it happened to (whom we’ll call Reuven).
“Reuven” was learning in Yeshivat Netivot, with Rabbi Yissachar Meir, in Israel. At a certain point, he decided to leave that yeshiva, and went to the holy Baba Sali, who lived nearby, to pray, and to get a beracha. He went in to get a blessing, but instead of blessing him, the rabbi practically cursed him. “You’re coming to me for a blessing? You’ve wasted your time in your studies, you came late to pray and to learn...” and he basically shambled the man. Reuven was very surprised. Why did the great rabbi rebuke him like that? Publicly?!
Then, in the car, on the way back, on a dangerous, swervy road, his car flipped over and fell down an embankment. As Shimon walked away from the accident, he felt lucky to be alive. He was shocked though, as he thought about what had happened. First the rabbi embarrassed him, then he was almost killed in a car accident. So, he went back to the rabbi, to find out what was going on.
When he returned, the Baba Sali gave him a big hug and said, “It worked!” When the man questioned him, the Rabbi (who had ruach hakodesh) explained,
“When I saw you this morning, I saw on your forehead that there was a death decree on you,” he said. “I thought- what can I do to remove that decree? I though that since being embarrassed is like being killed, maybe that would work. And Baruch Hashem, the embarrassment worked!”
Don’t try this at home, this is not for us. Do not go trying to embarrass people to save their lives.
The point for us is that when you get embarrassed, accept it as that. Think that G-d, in his mercy, accepts small things and gives great kaparah.