The ‘Ushpizin’ (Guests) in the Sukkah

ב”ה

– In the Zohar [III, 255b] it states that on the 7 days of Sukkos, special supernal guests (ushpizin) come into our Sukkah. They are Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov, Moshe, Aharon, Yosef, David and Shlomo.

– Each day, they (re)enter with the main quest for that day at the head of the group.

– Each of the ushpizin says a special verse through which he blesses the Jew (s) in the Sukkah: [Zohar II 104a}

Avraham:	“then you will delight in G-d. | will let you ride the heights of the earth and enjoy the inheritance of your father Jacob, for G-d’s mouth has spoken” [Yeshayaho 58:14]
Yitzchak:	“His offspring will be mighty in the land, a generation of the upright who will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his merit endures Forever.” [Tehillim 112: 2, 3]
Yaakov:	“Then your light will burst forth like the down, and your healing will spring up quickly. Your righteousness will precede you, and G-d’s glory will Follow you.”[Yeshayahu 58:8]
Moshe & Aharon  & Yosef :	“G-d will always guide you, satisfying you when you are parched and strengthening your bones. You will be like a watered garden, like a spring whose waters do not fail.” [Yeshayahu 58: 11]
David HaMelech:	“No weapon manufactured against you will succeed, and you will defeat every tongue raised against you in judgement. This is the lot of G-d’s servants and their reward from Me, says Hashem”. [Yeshayahu 54:17]

In addition to the classical upshpizin mentioned by the Zohar, there also appear Chassidic Ushpizin each day, as revealed by the Rebbe Rayatz in the name of his father, the Rebbe Rashab [sicha on first night of sukkos 1936 + 1942]. They are: the Baal sham Tov, the Maggid, the Alter Rebbe, the Mittler Rebbe, The Tsemach Tsedek, The Rebbe Maharash and the Rebbe Rashab.

This chassidic set of ushpizin (guests) does not differ from the first set of ushipizin, but rather they represent the primiyus (or neshama) of the classical ushpizin. Together, they become one perfect unit. It is not surprising, therefore, that we find many Striking similarities between the 2 sets of ushpizin, and even the differences they have are complementary. One example – Chazal tell us that the lives of Avraham Yitzhak and Yaakov overlapped for 15 years. It is known also that the Baal Shem Tov, The Maggid and the Alter Rebbe lived simultaneously for 15 years!

The ushipizin come to our sukka and cause thereby all aspects of our holiday to be uplifted and elevated incomparably. When they come, they are not the same as they were last year, since the whole year they engaged in Torah study in Gan Eden. And why do they come specifically on Sukkos? A) SIMCHA – breaks barriers and causes one to share with everyone. B) ACHDUS – as Chazal say [Gmara Sukkah 27 b] “all the Jewish People are fit to sit together in one sukkah”.

The Parallel Ushpizin:

The general progression among the classical Ushpizin:

Avraham:	opened the way to reveal G-dliness in the world.
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Yitzchak:	his very birth caused a revelation of G-diness in the world.
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Yaakov:	Torah, tiferes, Harmonizing between chessed & gevura.
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Moshe:	expanding the Torah through wisdom and insight.
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Aharon:	bringing the Torah to the masses and to those unaffiliated .
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Yosef:	using the Torah to influence the world.
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Dovid:	finishing the refinement and rectification of the world, thereby bringing Geula.

Comparisons between the classical and the Chassidic Ushpizin:

1	Avraham Avinu & The Baal Shem Tov :	Spreading emuna & G-dliness among the masses. Connection to water. Affect on the nations. Hachnasas Orchim
2	Yitzchak Avinu & The Maggid:	Staying in one place and influencing from there. The purpose of simcha as embodied by both.
3	Yaakov Avinu &   The Alter Rebbe:	Torah: revealed and hiddenLearning Torah and serving Hashem in conditions of confinement and in conditions of complete liberation
4	Moshe Rabbeinu & The Mittler Rebbe:	Expansion of Torah without limitations. Drawing down Ruach Hakodesh and preparing for the revelations of Yemos HaMashiach.
5	Aharon Hakohen & The TsemachTsedek:	Loving one’s Fellow Jew and uniting all the Jews. Simcha through water at the Simchas Beis Hashoeva.
6	Yosef Hatsaddik & The Rebbe Maharash:	Wealth and abundance “Lechatchila Ariber” Extensive dealings with the non-Jewish world
7	Dovid Hamelech & The Rebbe Rashab:	Soldiers of the House of DavidPreparing the world for Geula Simcha on the level of Kesserקוֹל צָמַח אִישׁ צֶֽמַח שְׁמוֹ, הוּא דָּוִד בְּעַצְמוֹ,מְבַשֵּׂר וְאוֹמֵר.  [In Hoshanos]
8	Shlomo HaMelech & The Rebbe Rayatz:	conquering the world the Haftora of Shmini Atzeres is about Shlomo HaMelech and  contains the verse: יְהִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ עִמָּנוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר הָיָה עִם אֲבֹתֵינוּ אַל יַעַזְבֵנוּ וְאַל יִטְּשֵׁנוּ.