Ushpizin - Succah Guests

Rabbi Melanie Aron

September 29, 2001

This morning I'd like to talk a little bit about the Ushpizin, the special spiritual guests who are traditionally invited into our succah.

The word Ushpizin, sounds Yiddish, but it is actually Aramaic and goes back to the first centuries of the common era. The root is used often in the Mishnah in words referring to inns, innkeepers and hospitality. In modern Hebrew ushpaz, means to be hospitalized, paralleling the development of the English word hospital from the latin hospes, meaning guests.

Our Tradition calls for a special guest to reside with us in the succah each of the seven nights of the Festival. Among Sephardic Jews a special decorated chair is set up for the guest, like Elijah's chair at a Bris. Among Ashkenazi Jews it was customary to decorate the Succah with the names of these exalted guests and even with pictures, something unusual in Jewish practice.

The seven guests as listed in the Kabbalah are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David. How were they chosen? It is not clear, but in the readings traditionally done in their honor we have some clues.

Each of the seven Jewish ancestors listed above is associated with travels as is the succah. Abraham was commanded to leave his home and birth place, Isaac was forced by famine to travel to Gerar. Jacob wandered to Padan Aram and spent 20 years in Exile. On his deathbed in Egypt, he made his sons swear to bury him in Canaan. Moses and Aaron of course, were the shepherds of the people of Israel in their desert wanderings, Joseph was a "stranger in a strange land" and David as a youth fleeing Saul was forced to wander in the wilderness. Other verses read in honor of these 7 guests stress the role of each of these figures as sources of inspiration not only for the Jewish people but for the whole world. Their qualities of lovingkindess, strength, and holiness are also enumerated.

If you've been listening closely you might have caught something out of order. When I listed the guests, I listed Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses and Aaron , Joseph and David. Shouldn't Joseph have followed his father Jacob and preceded Moses, who lived several hundred years after him? The order here is changed because of the mystical tradition of a Mashiach ben Yosef, a messiah, anointed deliverer from the descendents of Joseph who will precede the ultimate redeemer, the Messiah son of David.

One of the fun exercises I have enjoyed doing with Succah guests has been choosing our own Ushpizin. Let me share with you a list I came up with for this year.

I began with Deborah. First of all, of course, I could not imagine excluding women. But more importantly, Deborah was someone able to bring her people together. She was not a general, but she gave courage to others, and following her victory we are told that the land had peace for 40 years.

Mordechai seemed a good candidate for this year as well. He excelled in languages and in the gathering of intelligence and was able to discover and foil a plot against the king.

Rabbi Meir is my choice from the rabbinic period. He was an outstanding scholar, husband of Beruriah, a teacher of Jewish law in her own right. I thought of him this year because of his ongoing relationship with Elisha ben Abuyah who became a heretic. He was able to learn from others, even those with whom he disagreed.

Shmuel Hanagid was my fourth choice. He was the chief minister at the court at Granda during the Muslem era. A great political leader, he was also a poet. How wonderful it would be today to have a Jew, respected as a leader in the Muslim community.

Gracia Mendesia Nasi was an outstanding Jewish business woman in the middle ages. Born in Portugal, it is believed that she was a Marrano until she came to Constantinople. After her husband's death, she fled from Venice, escaping with great wealth only after many dangerous adventures. She was known in her later years for her charity in supporting the poor and ill in the community, but mainly for her many business ventures which employed many people.

I would also invite Yizchak Rabin. Just as we have always wondered how the history of the United States might have been different had President Lincoln not been assassinated, I have wondered this year, whether things might not have been different if Yigal Amir had failed in his assassination of Yizchak Rabin.

And finally, a traditional choice, Elijah, who we are told ushers in a time of personal and world peace, of the hearts of children and parents being turned towards each other, as well as the lion lying down with the lamb.

May we find all of the presences with us as we dwell in the Succah this year.