Mussar: The Sukka Test

The Sukka Test
By Guest Blogger
Rabbi J. Simcha Cohen 
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The gemora relates that at some time in the future, the Jewish people will be rewarded for their observance of Mitzvot. This reward disturbed  the gentile nations of the world, They contended that had G-d given Mitzvot to them they would also have observed them. As such the very fact that they never were offered Mitzvot to observe  should not be held against them. To test the integrity of such claims HaShem offered them a Mitzvah to observe: the Mitzvah of Sukkah. As the nations of the world entered their Sukkah, made the sun shine directly on the Sukkot. The heat became so unbearable that everyone simply fled from their Sukkah. As they left the Sukkah, they kicked it to manifest their utter disgust. (Avoda Zarah 3a).
Two questions may be leveled against this incident.
1.   Usually HaShem helps people observe Mitzvot. In this incident, HaShem generated the cause for not observing the Mitzvah. The implication is that HaShem didn't want such observance. Why?
2.   How could the nations of the world blatantly contend that they were never offered Mitzvot to observe? Is it not part of our Torah Mesorah that HaShem offered Mitzvot (not to steal nor Kill) to nations  and both were rejected?
Yes, it is true that nations were offered Mitzvot and they rejected the offer. But what did they actually reject? They were offered Mitzvot between man and man (bain adam l'chavairo). They rejected morality and ethical behavior. Yet, they still had a claim that they were never granted ritual religious Mitzvot. Torah has two components; moral and ritual. They openly noted their inability to observe morality, yet, could not understand why ritual laws were not given to them. HaShem understood their sensitivities. That's why He selected the ritual Mitzvah of Sukkah for their test.
Yet, why did HaShem make the Sukkah Mitzvah so difficult to observe? Why did not HaShem encourage and help the observance of the Sukkah Mitzvah?
HaShem manifested dramatically the fact that ritual without moral values is not acceptable to HaShem. A frum immoral person is not deemed a religious man. That is the true message of the Sukkah test.


Best Regards,
RRW