A Sukkot Question

A Sukkoth Question

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Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Sefaria.org” (SEF), 3. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC).

Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh: 1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings).

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Some minor alterations have been made relating to Names and Attributes having been corrected.

Let us first read three very important verses:

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (the LORD your Elohim) which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

“This is My Name FOREVER, and this is My Memorial to ALL Generations.” Shemot - Exodus 3:15. (JPS).

“I am יְהוָה, that is My Name; and My glory will I not give to another”. Yeshayahu – Isaiah 42:8. (JPS).

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“Waving the Lulav”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

I am aware that the question above sounds rather strange, however there is a very good reason for it, and this study will give you a decisive answer!

The waving of the lulav on the days of Succoth. The question is: who actually originated the practice of waving of the lulav six times to the North, South, East and West and up and down, etc. The truth is that this ritual is not found anywhere in the Torah!

Of course Vayikra - Leviticus 23:40 commands us to take the Four Species on Sukkoth, but it does not in any shape or form mention waving them in six directions. That ritual emerged much later, layered with deep symbolic meaning.

Origins of the Lulav Waving Ritual:

1. Rabbinic Expansion Based on Temple Offerings:

The Talmud (Sukkah 37b, Menachot 61a) connects the waving of the lulav to the waving of certain sacrificial offerings in the Temple.

The motion, forward and back, up and down was seen as a gesture of offering to the One who rules over all directions:

2. Protective and Spiritual Symbolism:

The Sages also taught that waving the lulav was a way to ward off harmful winds and dews, invoking divine protection over the natural world.

This aligns with Sukkoth’s agricultural roots, celebrating the harvest and praying for rain.

3. Kabbalistic Interpretation (Arizal):

Rabbi Isaac Luria (Arizal) introduced a mystical framework: Each direction corresponds to a ‘sefira’ (being a divine attribute) all part of a Kabbalistic thought, and it refers to the ten divine attributes or emanations through which God interacts with and creates the world.

South – Chesed (Kindness).

North – Gevurah (Discipline).

East – Tiferet (Harmony).

Up – Netzach (Perseverance).

Down – Hod (Submission).

West – Yesod (Connection).

Returning to the heart - Malchut (Kingship / Communication):

4. Codified Custom:

Over time, this waving ritual became ‘halachically codified’ in Jewish law and practice, even though it is not Torah-mandated at all!

Different communities (Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Chabad) have slight variations in the order and posture, but the six-directional waving has become very much universal.

When יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים - the LORD Elohim says “not to add to His commandments or take away” the Rabbis have sinned severely as they have made countless additions and subtractions of our blessed ‘Mitzvot’.

That’s a powerful and heartfelt concern, and one that echoes through centuries of Jewish thought and debate. The verses like Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2 and 13:1, does clearly state:

“You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor shall you subtract from it”.

This commandment has been interpreted in multiple ways, and the tension between divine instruction and rabbinic enactment is not new. Let’s unpack it with care.

Torah Vs Rabbinic Law. A Nuanced Distinction:

1. What the Torah Forbids:

According to Rambam (Maimonides), the prohibition is against claiming that an addition is Torah law. For example, if someone said, “Eating chicken with milk is forbidden by the Torah,” that is a violation, of the Mitzvot!

But if the Sages say, “We are adding a safeguard to prevent confusion,” and clearly label it as rabbinic, it’s not considered a sin, it is a protective measure.

2. Rabbinic Authority, Deuteronomy 17:

The Torah itself grants authority to judges and elders:

3. The Danger of Confusion:

The real danger, is when rabbinic additions are treated as divine commandments, blurring the line between Torah and ‘takkanot’ (rabbinic decrees).

The Midrash on Eve touching the tree is often cited: she added a prohibition (“don’t touch”), and that addition led to confusion and downfall.

And yet, the rabbinic tradition sees itself not as replacing Torah, but as interpreting and preserving it in changing the contexts. Whether one sees that as faithful stewardship or complete overreach depends on one’s theological lens.

A Paleo-Hebrew Lens?

Let us briefly explore how the original pictographs of ‘lo tosif’ - לא תוסיף as well as ‘lo tigra’ - לא תגרע might reveal deeper layers? There may be clues in the visual structure of the words themselves perhaps even a covenantal warning encoded in the glyphs.

Or we could examine prophetic critiques of priestly and rabbinic authority, like Malachi or Isaiah and see how they resonate with our concern.

Let us now dive into the Paleo-Hebrew pictographs of לא תוסיף (lo tosif - “do not add”) and לא תגרע (lo tigra, “do not subtract”), not just as prohibitions, but as covenantal warnings encoded in visual glyphs. These ancient forms often carry metaphorical weight that modern script obscures.

1. לא תוסיף - Lo Tosif (“Do not add”)

Word Breakdown:

לא (lo) - “No / Not”

תוסיף (tosif) – “You shall add”

Paleo-Hebrew Pictographs:

Letter	Pictograph	Meaning
Lamed (ל)	𐤋	Shepherd's staff – authority, guidance.
Aleph (א)	𐤀	Ox head – strength, leader.
Tav (ת)	𐤕	Cross or mark – covenant, sign.
Vav (ו)	𐤅	Hook or nail – connection, joining.
Samekh (ס)	𐤎	Thorn or support – protection, enclosure.
Yod (י)	𐤉	Arm/hand – action, deed.
Pe (ף)	𐤐	Mouth – speech, expression.

Layered Meaning:

לא (Lamed + Aleph): “No” is formed by authority (staff) and strength (ox), a divine command from the strong shepherd.

תוסיף (Tav–Vav–Samekh–Yod–Pe):

Tav: Covenant boundary.

Vav: Joining or adding.

Samekh: Protective fence.

Yod: Human action.

Pe: Mouth or speech.

Interpretation:

“Do not use your mouth (Pe) and hand (Yod) to join (Vav) new things to the covenant (Tav), even if they seem protective (Samekh). The authority (Lamed) of the strong One (Aleph) has already marked the boundary.”

2. לא תגרע - Lo Tigra (“Do not subtract”):

Word Breakdown:

לא (lo) - “No / Not”

תגרע (tigra) - “You shall subtract / diminish”.

Paleo-Hebrew Pictographs:

Letter	Pictograph	Meaning
Tav (ת)	𐤕	Covenant mark
Gimel (ג)	𐤂	Camel – movement, lifting, burden
Resh (ר)	𐤓	Head – authority, first
Ayin (ע)	𐤏	Eye – perception, insight

Layered Meaning:

תגרע (Tav–Gimel–Resh–Ayin):

Tav: Covenant boundary.

Gimel: Movement or burden.

Resh: Headship or leadership.

Ayin: Vision or understanding.

Interpretation:

“Do not remove (Gimel) the headship (Resh) or insight (Ayin) from the covenant (Tav). To subtract is to blind the eye and burden the path.”

Covenant Geometry - Six Directions and the Forbidden Seventh:

Our earlier insight about waving the lulav in six directions ties beautifully here. The Torah’s boundaries are like a six-sided cube, north, south, east, west, up, down. To add is to push beyond the cube; to subtract is to hollow it out. Both violate the sacred geometry of Divine instruction.

The ‘Zohar’ which became much later the occultist ‘Kabbalah’, which then infiltrated the ‘Talmud’, has changed our faith for the very worst and thus we are following laws that simply do not exist. Stick to the 613 Mitzvoth of our beloved Torah!

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In Conclusion, a Question to Deepen the Conversation:

Which part of this Tanach study or possibly a particular line or statement within it has touched you the most? And how do you feel about spending more time studying our beloved Tanakh? I pray that you are doing well as a faithful Hebrew, and אֱלֹהִים - Elohim willing you are upholding as many as possible of our blessed Mitzvoth’s?

I am well aware that the modern world sadly contains too many deviations as well as problems that seem to get in the way of our Hebrew lifestyle. Yet worse than that, these days there are far too many enticements, which can so easily throw many off track, and I know that has happened far too much. Thus, if there are struggles that are taking place in your life, be it at this or at any time, I am well aware that sadly it can often have a terrible and a cruel effect upon your life?

Dear reader, please remember this, pray for peace and solitude in your life, and then work on keeping as calm as possible and learn to improve your life, for אֱלֹהִים, בָּרוּךְ אֱלֹהִים - Bless Elohim, He is always there and ready to help and guide you!

This site was originally set up for those who needed to return to our blessed and wonderful faith, thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least three times a day, and always seek אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via a number of our prophets...

“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. MEC).

And Remember ...

Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!

אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָם

וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה (the LORD your God); walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - YaHVaH Elohim”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).

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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”,

For our Elohim is the One who gave us our ... Life!

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom (Peace) of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה(the LORD of hosts) be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the ‘מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Te’fee’lah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!

PLEASE NOTE: If you need help I can email you special items to help you with whatever you may need, etc! Just email me (using the link further below) and I will send it to your email, without any follow up whatsoever, or any requests from me!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

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