The joyous holiday of Succos comes just five days after Yom Kippur, which is observed ten days after Rosh Hashana.
There are three tractates of the Babylonian Talmud dedicated to these holidays. Tractate Rosh Hashana deals with the laws concerning Rosh Hashana, such as the Shofar and its sounds, the unique prayers, and how we are judged. Tractate Yoma is dedicated to the laws concerning the fast of Yom Kippur and the details of the elaborate Temple sacrificial service. Tractate Succah deals with the laws of the dimensions, structure, location and roof of a Succah, the laws of the four species ― the Lulav, Esrog, Hadassim and Arovos, the joyous celebrations, and the special offerings and water libations that were conducted in the Temple in Jerusalem.
The Vilna Goan – also known to us as the Gra, points out something fascinating. Throughout the entire Tractate Succah there are many discussions about various kosher and non-kosher Succah constructions.
The Gra observed that there are exactly 85 invalid Succah examples that are discussed throughout the tractate. The number 85 is significant because the Gematria of the word Succah when it is spelled without the letter Vav is, 85.
The Gra adds that there are exactly 91 kosher Succah examples that are discussed in the tractate, which equal the numerical equivalent of the word Succah when it is spelled completely with the letter Vav!
There is another famous and brilliant insight that the Gra uncovered for us.
The Torah commands that 70 bulls are to be offered in the Temple during the Holiday of Succos.
On the first day of Succos 13 bulls were offered and each subsequent day had one less. Thus, over the seven-day period, 70 bulls were offered.
Among the other animals that were offered each day of Succos, was one Seir Izim – a male goat.
The Gra noticed that the expression of Seir Izim appears while the Torah discuses three days of the sacrifices, but on the sacrifices of four of the days only the term Seir, without Izim is recorded.
The Gra explained this anomaly as follows:
The Talmud states that the seventy bulls which are offered on Succos represent the 70 nations of the world. These sacrifices bestowed unbounded blessing on the nations.
The Zohar, our Kabala, states that Yishmael and Eisav are the parent body of all the seventy nations. The expression of Seir Izim refers to Yishmael, while the term Seir alone, represents Eisav.
Says the Gra, since 70 bulls were offered, it stands to reason that 35 bulls should go to the nations that Yishmael stands for, and 35 to the nations that Eisav represents, since Yishmael and Aisav are the basis of all the 70 nations of the world.
How are the seventy bulls divided equally?
As we pointed out, Yishmael is represented by Seir Izim. The days of Succos where the Torah states Seir Izim is on the first day – when 13 bulls were offered, the second day – when 12 bulls were offered and the fourth day – when 10 bulls were offered. This brings the total of bulls associated with Seir Izim and Yishmael to 35.
Eisav is represented by the word Seir. The days of Succos where the Torah states Seir is on day three – when 11 bulls were offered, day five – when 9 bulls were offered, day six – when 8 bulls were offered, and day seven – when 7 bulls were offered. This brings the total of bulls associated with Seir and Aisav to 35!
So how is G-d’s beloved Nation represented? This is where the expression, ‘Save the best for last’ comes in. It is on Shemini Atzeres – when we celebrate the culmination of the holiday sweep. It is on this day that G-d commands the offering of a solitary bull – to exclusively confer a magnificent farewell blessing to His beloved Nation Yisroel!
