Go out to the mountain and bring olive leaves and leaves of oil trees, myrtle leaves, date palm leaves, and leaves of plaited trees, to make booths, as it is written.
NEHEMIAH (8:15)
צְאוּ הָהָר וְהָבִיאוּ עֲלֵי זַיִת וַעֲלֵי עֵץ שֶׁמֶן וַעֲלֵי הֲדָס וַעֲלֵי תְמָרִים וַעֲלֵי עֵץ עָבֹת לַעֲשׂת סֻכֹּת כַּכָּתוּב
נְחֶמְיָה ח: טו
tz'-u ha-har v'-ha-vee-u a-lay za-yeet va-a-lay-aytz she-men va-a-lay ha-das va-a-lay t'-ma-reem va-a-lay aytz a-vot la-a-sot su-kot ka-ka-tuv
Today's Israel Inspiration
Nehemiah tells the nation to go to "out to the mountain and bring olive leaves and leaves of oil trees, myrtle leaves, date palm leaves." What is the significance of where the people had to go to find these items? The prophet was teaching a vital lesson. He instructed the people to go out of their way, even as far as "the mountain" to seek beautiful plants to construct the booths in honor of the festival of Sukkot. It is not enough that we do God's will but we must do it in a significant and beautiful way.
NEHEMIAH (8:15)
צְאוּ הָהָר וְהָבִיאוּ עֲלֵי זַיִת וַעֲלֵי עֵץ שֶׁמֶן וַעֲלֵי הֲדָס וַעֲלֵי תְמָרִים וַעֲלֵי עֵץ עָבֹת לַעֲשׂת סֻכֹּת כַּכָּתוּב
נְחֶמְיָה ח: טו
tz'-u ha-har v'-ha-vee-u a-lay za-yeet va-a-lay-aytz she-men va-a-lay ha-das va-a-lay t'-ma-reem va-a-lay aytz a-vot la-a-sot su-kot ka-ka-tuv
Today's Israel Inspiration
Nehemiah tells the nation to go to "out to the mountain and bring olive leaves and leaves of oil trees, myrtle leaves, date palm leaves." What is the significance of where the people had to go to find these items? The prophet was teaching a vital lesson. He instructed the people to go out of their way, even as far as "the mountain" to seek beautiful plants to construct the booths in honor of the festival of Sukkot. It is not enough that we do God's will but we must do it in a significant and beautiful way.