אות - פז

Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur make it appropriate for one to possess a beautiful etrog . 138 This was said between Yom Kippur and Sukkot 5570/1809 ( Yemey Moharnat #39; Tzaddik #185; Parparaot LeChokhmah II, 67). See “ His Wisdom ” #125.

People say that a fool has a beautiful wife. The etrog is analogous to a wife. It is written, “You are entirely beautiful, my beloved, and have no blemish” (Song of Songs 4:7) . The Zohar states that this is the etrog ( Tikkuney Zohar #13, 29a; #21, 56b) .

It is also written, “Behold, a child was crying, and she had mercy on him” (Exodus 2:6) . The Tikkuney Zohar (#11, 26b) says that when the Jews are like this crying child, they awaken God’s mercy. On Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, the Jews resemble just such a child. In Hebrew, the crying child is a NaAR . NaAR also means a fool.

When the Jews become such a child, they must have a beautiful etrog . A fool has a beautiful wife. The more the Jews personify a crying child, the more they deserve this beautiful etrog .

The world says that a fool has a beautiful wife. Following is the reason for this. Intelligence lies in the brain.

The brain is nourished by the marrow in the bones. 139 This is also true physiologically, as the marrow manufactures the red blood cells which nourish the brain. It is written, “The marrow of his bones is moistened” (Job 21:24) . The marrow is sustained by the fats and fluids of the body. Since it is the fats and fluids which sustain the marrow, they maintain the intellect. The intellect is therefore sustained through the body’s fats and fluids ( Likutey Moharan I, 225) .

The fool has limited intelligence because his brain cannot draw from the marrow in his bones. Therefore, his bones are left with an overabundance of marrow.

It is written, “He took one of his ribs … and made it into a woman” (Genesis 2:21-22) . A man’s destined mate is taken from his bones. A fool’s wife, then, receives an overabundance of marrow. Therefore, she has a deep, inner intelligence. It is written, “A man's wisdom lights up his face” (Ecclesiastes 8:1) . Beauty comes from the intellect. Consequently, a fool’s wife appears beautiful.

This is also true in the spheres of holiness. The roots of holy knowledge must be drawn into the etrog . This is explained in the writings of the Ari. 140 Sha'ar HaKavanot , Inyan Sukkah #5. When one shakes the Four Species, he raises and lowers them. He raises them toward the root of knowledge ( da'at ), and in lowering them, draws this da'at back into the etrog .

To explain this a little: The etrog is Malkhut , the Royal Bride. The bridegroom is Z'er Anpin , the “Small-Faced One.” The “body” of Z'er Anpin is comprised of the six directions. The aspects of the mind of this body are the Chasadim (Benevolences, Mercies) of these directions.

When the etrog is taken, these aspects of the mind are drawn into it. The lights of mercy then enter the etrog . The root of mercy is knowledge. This is the mystery of the shaking of the Four Species, as explained in the writings of the Ari.

When the etrog is taken, light is drawn from the aspects of the mind of Z'er Anpin to those of the six directions of the body. These aspects of the mind are then illuminated and increased. The etrog – the Royal Bride – is then enlightened by these mentalities.

The etrog is analogous to the fool’s wife. The fool’s mental power remains within the marrow of his bones and does not rise to his brain. It can thereby be bestowed upon his wife. However, in the worlds of holiness, the lights of the brain are drawn into the body. The mental power is then drawn into the etrog from the increased light in the body. The etrog is thereby illuminated.

Look carefully into the writings of the Ari and you will understand this well.

This is also the concept of the sukkah. It is written, “For Israel is a child and I love him” (Hosea 11:1) . Love is an embrace – an embrace with the right hand (cf. Song of Songs 2:6, 8:3) . This embrace is the sukkah. On Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, the Jew enters into an aspect of, “Behold, a child was crying, and she had mercy on him.” Then on Sukkot, he can enter the category of, “For Israel is a child and I love him” – the sukkah.