What’s the “V’higadeta l’bincha” on Sukkos?

To the Honored Rav, shlit”a

I have a question that may not be typical, but it’s been on my mind for the past few weeks now, and I hope the Rav can answer me. With the Aseres Ymei Teshuvah upon us and Sukkos right around the corner, I’m wondering what we’re meant to teach our children when sitting in the sukkah. On Pesach, we have a clearly written and structured Haggadah, which allows us to fulfill the mitzvah of "V'higadeta l'bincha,” but on Sukkos, there is no set text or clear message that we are meant to impart. I was hoping that the Rav could share an idea with a clear chinuch message that I can share with my children on Sukkos.

Yasher koach! Thank you very much!

Hagaon Harav Dovid Levy, shlit”a, replies: This is actually a wonderful question! It is crucial to invest time and energy reflecting upon the mitzvos and what to teach our children. But naturally, before conveying any message to our children, we must ensure that it is crystal clear in our minds, as well.

The answer I would like to share is based on the teachings of my revered rebbi, Rabbi Leib Mintzberg, zt”l. In his unique way, he would analyze the precise language of the Torah and extract pearls of wisdom from them.

One question that he asked was why the Torah refers to this Yom Tov by two different names? In Sefer Vayikra and Sefer Devarim, the festival is called “Chag HaSukkos”, whereas in Sefer Shemos, it is referred to as “Chag HaAsif” (the Festival of Ingathering), when the farmers would bring the produce into their homes and silos.

On a simple level, these names seem to address two entirely unrelated concepts: “Sukkos” commemorates the miracles that Bnei Yisrael experienced in the Midbar after leaving Mitzrayim, while “Asif” celebrates the joy of gathering the produce from the field into the home.

My rebbi then raised another question: What is the difference between “Chag HaKatzir”, the Festival of the Harvest (Shavuos) and “Chag HaAsif”, the Festival of the Ingathering (Sukkos)? Both seem to focus on the blessing of the Land and its produce, and it is unlikely that the Torah would institute two distinct Yamim Tovim to celebrate the same theme.

Yet there is a profound distinction here: Shavuos is a celebration of the gift of Eretz Yisrael itself. Its essence is expressing gratitude for the very gift of theארץ זבת חלב ודבש —the land flowing with milk and honey which was given to us by Hashem, as described in Sefer Devarim (8:7-10): כי ה' אלוקיך מביאך אל ארץ טובה ארץ נחלי מים עינת ותהמת יצאים בבקעה ובהר. ארץ חטה ושערה וגפן ותאנה ורמון ארץ זית שמן ודבש. ארץ אשר לא במסכנת תאכל בה לחם לא תחסר כל בה ארץ אשר אבניה ברזל ומהרריה תחצב נחשת. ואכלת ושבעת וברכת את ה' אלוקיך על הארץ הטבה אשר נתן לך - For Hashem your G-d is bringing you into a good land... a land of wheat, barley, grape, fig, and pomegranate... you will eat and be satisfied, and you shall bless Hashem your G-d for the good land He has given you. Therefore, on Shavuos, we bring bikkurim, the first fruits of the crop and display the finest produce to demonstrate the greatness of this gift.

Sukkos, on the other hand, is a celebration of Hashem’s constant hashgachah as manifested by rain. The Torah states at the end of Parshas Eikev (Devarim 11:10-12): כי הארץ אשר אתה בא שמה לרשתה לא כארץ מצרים הוא אשר יצאתם משם אשר תזרע את זרעך והשקית ברגלך כגן הירק. והארץ אשר אתם עברים שמה לרשתה ארץ הרים ובקעות למטר השמים תשתה מים. ארץ אשר ה' אלוקיך דרש אתה תמיד עיני ה' אלוקיך בה מרשית השנה ועד אחרית שנה. - For the Land which you are entering to possess is not like the land of Egypt... where you would sow your seed and water it by foot... but the land you are crossing to possess is a land of hills and valleys; from the rain of the heavens it drinks water. A land that Hashem your G-d seeks out; the eyes of Hashem your G-d are constantly upon it from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.  For this reason, on Sukkos we perform the mitzvah of nisuch hamayim on the Mizbeiach, as Chazal teach that the world is judged for water on Sukkos.

Based on this, we resolve our original question regarding the two names of this Yom Tov. “Sukkos” and “Asif” are not two separate concepts brought together, but two sides of the same coin. The central theme uniting both the Ingathering and the Sukkah is Hashem's constant Hashgachah!

In the Midbar, we were surrounded with blessings and miracles as the Ananei Hakavod, Be’er, mann, and slav, and Hakadosh Baruch Hu’s leadership was miraculous and manifest to all. In Eretz Yisrael, however, His guidance was cloaked beneath the veil of nature, as we were bound to plow and plant, and we depended heavily on rain. Yet the root of it all is the same, as every miracle—large and small, concealed or manifest to all—is hashgachah pratis.

This is a powerful chinuch message we can impart to our families at the Yom Tov table. We must train both ourselves and our children to notice and appreciate Hashem’s special hashgachah over us. Whenever possible, point out the countless miracles that He performs—both thousands of years ago in the Midbar and throughout the course of every single day of life. Highlight both the extraordinary, manifest miracles, and also the small ones that occur within our daily routine.

Wishing you and all of Klal Yisrael a gmar tov, a gut gebencht yor, and nachas from your family!