Sukkos and the Daled Minim unite Israel

כל האזרח בישראל ישבו בסוכות ואמרו חז"ל כל ישראל ראויין לישב בסוכה אחת.

"Every native-born in Israel shall dwell in sukkos" (Vayikra 23:42) — and Chazal said: all of Israel are fit to dwell in a single sukkah.

The Sefas Emes opens from the teaching that, in principle, all of Klal Yisrael could sit together in one sukkah — a hint at their essential unity.

הרמז כפי מה שבאים אל האחדות זוכין לסוכה שהיא בחי' אהבת כלולותיך.

The hint is: to the extent that they come into achdus (unity), they merit the sukkah, which is the aspect of "the love of your nuptials (ahavas kelulosayich)" (Yirmiyah 2:2).

The sukkah embodies the bridal love between Hashem and Israel, and one merits it precisely by entering into unity with the rest of Klal Yisrael.

ואחר יוהכ"פ נעשין בני ישראל אגודה אחת.

And after Yom Kippur, Bnei Yisrael become a single bound bundle (agudah achas).

Having been cleansed on Yom Kippur, Israel is now able to bind together as one unit — which is why Sukkos follows immediately after.

כי עונות מבדילים דיש עונות בין אדם למקום ובין אדם לחבירו.

For sins create separation — there are sins between a person and the Omnipresent (bein adam laMakom) and sins between a person and his fellow (bein adam lachaveiro).

It is sin that divides; and sin comes in two forms, those against Hashem and those against one's fellow.

וזה רמז הד' מינים שנעשין אחדות אחד ואז חל עליהם שם שמים שהוא בחי' הסוכה.

And this is the hint of the Daled Minim (Four Species), which are made into a single unity — and then the Name of Heaven (Shem Shomayim) rests upon them, which is the aspect of the sukkah.

Binding the four species together symbolizes Israel's unity, upon which the Divine Name then rests, paralleling the encompassing sukkah.

הד' מינים הרמז שתקנו מה שבין אדם לחבירו.

The Daled Minim are the hint that they have rectified that which is between a person and his fellow.

The four species, of differing kinds bound together, represent repairing the bonds between fellow Jews.

והסוכה רומז שתקנו מה שבין אדם למקום.

And the sukkah hints that they have rectified that which is between a person and the Omnipresent.

The sukkah, surrounding a person from above and around, represents the restored relationship with Hashem.

וע"ז נא' שלום שלום שלום שלמטה ושלום שלמעלה.

And concerning this it is said, "Peace, peace" (Yeshayah 57:19) — peace below and peace above.

The doubled "peace" alludes to both reconciliations: peace among people below and peace with Hashem above.

ולכן בשבת א"צ לד' מינים דהנפשות קרובים וכל הפירוד בבחי' הגוף ושבת יומא דנשמתין ונק' שלום.

Therefore on Shabbos one does not need the Daled Minim, for the souls are close, and all division is only in the aspect of the body; and Shabbos is "the day of souls" (yoma denishmasin) and is called "peace" (shalom).

On Shabbos, when the soul-dimension dominates, Jews are already inwardly united — division belongs only to the physical — so the unifying mitzvah of the four species is unnecessary.

ולקחתם לכם פי' שכל אחד יקח חלק בכלל ישראל כמ"ש לקיחה לכל אחד ולקיחה תמה.

"And you shall take for yourselves" (Vayikra 23:40) — the meaning is that each person should take a portion in Klal Yisrael, as is taught, "a taking for each individual" and "a complete taking" (lekichah tammah).

"Take for yourselves" charges each Jew to grasp hold of his share in the whole nation, so that the "taking" is whole and complete.

וכמ"ש בגמ' יש שעושין פירות ויש שאין עושין פירות ויהיו נזקקין העושין פירות לשאין עושין ע"ש.

And as is stated in the Gemara: there are those of the species that produce fruit and there are those that do not produce fruit, and those that produce fruit are bound together with those that do not; see there.

The Gemara notes that among the four species, fruit-bearing and non-fruit-bearing kinds are joined — a model of mutual dependence within Israel.

והיינו העושין פירות יכניסו כחם לכלל ישראל לסיוע לאין עושין.

That is to say, those who "produce fruit" should bring their strength into Klal Yisrael to assist those who do "not produce fruit."

Those rich in spiritual accomplishment should contribute their strength to the whole, helping those who lack.

ושאין עושין יבטלו עצמן אל העושין:

And those who do "not produce fruit" should nullify themselves (bittul) to those who do produce fruit.

Conversely, those who lack should bind themselves through bittul to the accomplished, and so all become one bundle in which each completes the other.

Summary: All of Israel are fit to sit in one sukkah because the sukkah expresses the bridal love and unity between Hashem and His people. Cleansed of the sins that divide — both bein adam laMakom and bein adam lachaveiro — Israel becomes a single agudah after Yom Kippur. The Daled Minim repair the bonds between fellow Jews while the sukkah repairs the bond with Hashem, bringing peace below and above. Through "taking" one's portion in Klal Yisrael, the accomplished share their strength and the lacking nullify themselves to them, so that all are bound as one.