Finding one's portion through bittul to the klal

בענין לולב ומיניו.

Regarding the lulav and its species.

The Sefas Emes opens his discussion of the four minim (species) taken on Sukkos.

דאיתא במדרש נגד חילוקי בני ישראל שיש בהם טעם וריח כו'.

For it is brought in the Midrash that they correspond to the different categories among Bnei Yisrael — some who have taste and some who have fragrance, etc.

The Midrash teaches that the four species, which vary in taste and smell, mirror the variety of Jews: some with Torah (taste) and some with mitzvos (fragrance), and some with both or neither.

היינו שיכול כל אחד למצוא את שלו בזה החג דכתיב ולקחתם לכם כו'.

That is, each person can find his own portion on this Yom Tov, as it is written: "And you shall take for yourselves," etc.

The word "for yourselves" hints that every individual, on whatever level he stands, can find his unique place and avodah within the festival.

אבל צריך להיות כל אחד בטל להכלל כדי להשלים רצון הבורא ית' בבנ"י.

But each one must be nullified to the collective in order to complete the ratzon Hashem (the will of the Creator) within Bnei Yisrael.

Even though each Jew has his own portion, the goal is bittul (self-nullification) to the whole klal, since Hashem's full will is only realized when all of Bnei Yisrael are joined as one.

כמ"ש ושמחתם לפני ה' אלקיכם שיהי' זה כל המכוון.

As it is written: "And you shall rejoice before Hashem your God" — that this should be the entire intention.

The purpose of the rejoicing is to stand "before Hashem," meaning that the whole focus of the simcha is turning oneself entirely toward Him.

ולכן הוא זמן שמחה כי כל השמחה כשאדם בא לשורשו ומקומו.

Therefore it is a time of joy, for all joy comes when a person arrives at his root and his place.

True simcha is the experience of returning to one's source — and Sukkos enables every Jew to reconnect to his spiritual root.

וחג הזה מחלק דעת לכל אחד מנפשות בנ"י כפי מדריגתו.

And this festival apportions daas (understanding) to each of the souls of Bnei Yisrael according to his level.

Sukkos distributes spiritual awareness to every Jew, each receiving according to the rung on which he stands.

והיא התורה שיש בה פרדס.

And this is the Torah, which contains the Pardes (the four levels of interpretation).

The Torah has four layers — peshat, remez, derush, and sod (together spelling Pardes) — paralleling the variety of levels among Bnei Yisrael.

והוא בודאי נגד ד' מדריגות אלו טעם וריח כו'.

And this surely corresponds to those four levels — taste and fragrance, etc.

The four levels of Pardes align with the four species and their qualities of taste and smell, each representing a different rung of avodah.

ולכן אחר סוכות שמחת תורה כמ"ש נגילה ונשמחה בך.

Therefore, after Sukkos comes Simchas Torah, as it is written: "Let us be glad and rejoice in You."

The culmination of the festival is rejoicing not in any portion or gift, but in Hashem Himself — "in You."

פי' שכל הע' אומות לוקחים כל אחד שר שלו חלקו והולך לו.

The meaning is that all seventy nations each take their own heavenly minister, their portion, and go on their way.

The other nations are content with their assigned share and their celestial representative, and they depart satisfied with that limited portion.

ובני ישראל אומרים אין לנו חפץ טוב ממך.

But Bnei Yisrael say: we desire no greater good than You.

Bnei Yisrael are not satisfied with any intermediary or portion — they want only a direct bond with Hashem Himself.

הביאני המלך חדריו הוא בסוכות שניתן להם רשות ליקח כל אחד מה שרוצה.

"The King has brought me into His chambers" — this is on Sukkos, when each one is given permission to take whatever he desires.

Sukkos is the time when the King invites every Jew into His innermost chambers, granting each the freedom to draw close in his own way.

והם נמשכין אחריו ית' בלבד כמ"ש בך בכ"ב אתוון דאורייתא:

And they are drawn after Him alone, as it is written "in You" — through the twenty-two letters of the Torah.

Bnei Yisrael cling to Hashem alone, and that bond is forged specifically through the Torah, whose twenty-two letters (the word "in You," bach, hinting at the count) are the channel of connection.

Summary: The four species mirror the diversity of Bnei Yisrael, where each Jew finds his own portion on Sukkos, yet must nullify himself to the klal to fulfill Hashem's will; the joy of the festival is the return to one's source, culminating in Simchas Torah, when — unlike the nations who take their portion and depart — Bnei Yisrael desire nothing but Hashem Himself, clinging to Him through the letters of the Torah.