2022/5783
People often wonder why we do not wave the Lulav in Ana Hashem Hatzlichah Na as we do during Ana Hashem Hoshi'ah Na. Let us try to set forth an explanation for our practice.
Beit Hillel vs. Beit Shamai
This question is actually debated by Beit Hillel and Beit Shamai (Sukkah 3:8). Interestingly, the Mishnah records that the common practice accorded with Beit Shamai, who argue that we wave the Lulav during both Hoshi'ah and Hatzlichah.
This common practice is hardly surprising since this opinion makes eminent sense. On Sukkot, we are judged for water (Rosh HaShanah 1:2). Hence, we take the Arba’ah Minim and use them to reinforce our praise of Hashem during Hallel. The waving is a plea to Hashem – if you provide us with rain, we will use its produce in Your service.
We wave during Ana Hashem to place, so to speak, an exclamation point on our request. Accordingly, we should place the exclamation point not only on Ana Hashem Hoshi'ah Na but also on Ana Hashem Hatzlichah Na.
Rabi Akiva, Rabban Gamliel, and Rabi Yehoshuah
As we find quite a number of times in Chazal, Rabi Akiva was responsible for changing our mindset about this matter. The Mishnah (Sukkah, ad. loc.) records Rabi Akiva’s report that he noticed that both Rabban Gamliel and Rabi Yehoshuah did not wave their Lulav during Ana Hashem Hatzlichah Na, in accordance with the view of Beit Hillel. Why did these two great Rabbanim deviate from the common practice to follow Beit Shamai?
A Chassidic Story
When we posed the question to Rav Abba Bronspigel, the great Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University in 1980, as to why we do not wave the Lulav during Ana Hashem Hatzlichah Na, he explained with a Chassidic story:
A Chassid who was struggling financially was wondering whether he should move elsewhere sought his Rebbe’s advice. The Rebbe asked him if he is financially solvent. He answered yes but that he is not truly succeeding.
The Rebbe told him that we wave the Lulav during Ana Hashem Hoshi'ah Na to show we can move around for Yeshu’ah from being saved from financial ruin. However, we do not wave the Lulav during Ana Hashem Hatzlichah Na since we do not move around for success if we are surviving.
I understand this story to be teaching the difference between financial survival and financial success. Economic survival is a necessity and therefore we must take extraordinary steps to avoid fiscal ruin. Financial success, on the other hand, is not a necessity and hence we do not turn our lives upside down in order to achieve such success.
Explaining Beit Hillel’s Opinion
I suggest that this is the logic underlying Beit Hillel’s insistence not to wave during Ana Hashem Hoshi'ah Na. Beit Hillel believes that it is crucial we distinguish between monetary success and staying afloat monetarily.
Popular opinion rejected this distinction as we all desire great wealth. However, Beit Hillel insists that while wealth can be wonderful it is vital to always remember it is not a necessity.
Rabi Akiva reinforces this message by noting that he saw both Rabban Gamliel and Rabi Yehoshuah embracing Beit Hillel’s credo. Both Rabban Gamliel, who was wealthy (as is clear from many places in Shas), and Rabi Yehoshua, who was poor (Berachot 28a) recognize that it is worth waving the Lulav to place an exclamation point on Ana Hashem Hoshi'ah Na but not on Ana Hashem Hatzlichah Na.
Hoshanot and Simchat Torah
Interestingly, throughout Hoshanot we ask Hashem Ana Hashem Hoshi'ah Na and Ani Ve’Hu (or Ve’Ho) Hoshi'ah Na. However, we do not say Ana Hashem Hatzlichah Na. Again while we are taking our Lulav to add extra potency to our Tefillot we distinguish between Yeshu’a and Hatzlacha.
Interestingly, on Simchat Torah during the Hakafot we do ask Hashem for Hatzlachah. Why do we add this plea on Simchat Torah and not during Sukkot? An answer is that on Simchat Torah we are asking Hashem for Hatzlachah for our Torah learning and spirituality. On Sukkot we omit a plea for Hatzlachah during the Hakafot to stress that Hatzlacha in material matters is a luxury but not a necessity. However, when it comes to Torah, success is not a luxury. Ki Heim Chayeinu Ve’Orech Yameinu, the quality of our eternity hinges on our spiritual success.
The purpose of our temporary journey in this world is to earn a proper place in Eternity. We cannot afford to be delinquent in this effort, as the cost is astounding. If, on the other hand, we only to get by financially speaking during the time we spend in this world, it is not catastrophic.
A Perfect Message for Sukkot
This message is perfect for Sukkot when we leave our permanent homes for the Sukkah which the Gemara (Sukkah 2a and elsewhere) refers to a Dirat Arai, temporary dwelling. Shifting from a Dirat Keva to a Dirat Arai teaches us that our permanent homes are nice but not a necessity. We can manage to survive in a Sukkah if we are forced to do so. We return to our homes after Sukkot, reminded that they are wonderful but we could live without it.
Conclusion – A Key to Successful Wealth Management
On Sukkot many communities read Kohelet (5:13) which speaks of Osher Shamur LeBa’alav LeRa’a, wealth that harms its owners. Many of us have seen wealth that destroys its owners and its families. Often the route to success is to bear in mind that the wealth is wonderful but not something we could not live without. And that is exactly the powerful and very important message we believe is communicated by our not waving the Lulav when we recite Ana Hashem Hatzlichah Na.