All Paid Up

For years, Yankel, who owned a shop in a small town, would make his way to the large city, where he would purchase goods from Zevulun, a wholesaler. According to a longstanding arrangement, Yankel would buy on credit to stock his store, and, after selling the items in his own shop, he would pay up.

With the passage of time, his business suffered a downturn and, when the date for repayment arrived, he found himself unable to meet his obligations. Yankel traveled to the city and met with Zevulun, to whom he explained his difficulties in detail. Zevulun fully understood, graciously reduced the amount owed, and gave Yankel more time to pay up the rest.

When the new date came, Yankel’s business wasn’t faring any better, and he still had no means with which to repay his debt. Once again he made his way to the big city, and with considerable anguish related his situation to Zevulun. A kindhearted fellow, Zevulun promptly agreed to a further reduction in the debt and set yet another date for payment of the remaining amount.

Yankel valiantly tried his best, but when this date approached, he realized that his finances still hadn’t improved and he had no cash with which to pay. Shamefacedly, Yankel made his way for a third time to Zevulun, and tearfully pleaded with him. Filled with compassion, Zevulun informed him that he would forgive the entire debt.

While he was touched by Zevulun’s generosity, Yankel realized that although this arrangement would provide short-term relief, it would be catastrophic in the long run. Having lost his credibility with Zevulun, he could no longer purchase goods for his shop, which meant he had lost any chance of rebuilding his business.

Yankel decided to turn to his closest relatives. He poured out his tale of woe, relating how he was left with neither cash nor a way to restock his store. Feeling his pain, his relatives each gave as much as they could afford. Together, they raised the missing amount and the debt to Zevulun was paid off. With his reputation restored, Yankel was once again able to take goods on credit and start his business afresh.

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As Jews throughout the world get ready to usher in the glorious Yom Tov of Sukkos, they also are preparing to welcome seven lofty guests. Though we may not be on the level of seeing the Ushpizin, we nevertheless believe that our lofty Avos, along with Moshe Rabbeinu, Aharon Hakohen, Yosef Hatzaddik and Dovid Hamelech, visit our sukkah. There are many esoteric concepts associated with the Ushpizin that are far beyond the grasp of ordinary mortals, but with the aforementioned parable, we can gain a new insight into why they come.

The Midrash Tanchuma (quoted in Tur Orach Chaim 581) teaches us a mashal of a province that owed taxes to a king, and His Majesty, escorted by an army, came to collect it. When the king was still 10 parsaos away, the leaders of the province went out to greet him, saying, “We don’t have what to give you,” and the king deducted a third of the debt. When the king came closer, the middle-class residents went out to greet him and the king deducted another third of the original debt. When he arrived even closer, the entire populace came out to greet him, and the king forgave the entire debt.

Am Yisrael amasses a “debt” caused by our sins. On Erev Rosh Hashanah, the Gedolim fast and Hashem forgives a third of the sins. During the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, the beinonim fast and Hashem forgives another third. On Yom Kippur, when all of Klal Yisrael fasts, Hashem forgives the rest of the sins.

In His infinite mercy, Hashem has wiped our slate clean, but, like the shopkeeper in the story, after Yom Kippur we feel that we have lost our trust in the eyes of Hashem and worry about our relationship going forward.

On Sukkos, we invite our “relatives” — the seven Ushpizin — to help us “pay off” our debt to Hashem. On the first night, Avraham Avinu gives some of his middah of chessed; on the second night, Yitzchak Avinu gives of his middah of gevurah; on the third night, Yaakov Avinu gives of tiferes, and so on. At the end of the Yom Tov, the Ushpizin have donated sufficient zechuyos by giving of their lofty middos and good deeds to pay up the entire debt. Once this has been achieved, we celebrate Simchas Torah, as we have started anew our relationship with Hashem. (Adapted from a teaching of Harav Yechezkel, the Rebbe of Kuzmir, zy”a)

May all of Klal Yisrael merit to achieve the requisite happiness during this wonderful Yom Tov, draw inspiration from the holy Ushpizin, and use the opportunity to grow closer to Hashem.

This article appeared in print in the September 24th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.