USHPIZIN [#15632]

October 8, 2021

QUESTION:

How does a person work on acquiring the middos the Ushpizin on each day of Succos?

ANSWER:

In every area a person can find the 7 middos of ahavah (love), yirah (fear), rachamim (compassion), Netzach (victory), hod, yesod, malchus. For one who wants to take this path, he should find these 7 areas on each day of Succos and see how on the first day how he can show more love for Hashem, on the second day how he can show more fear of Hashem, etc.
QUESTION
What is the relationship of Shlomo HaMelech with the other Ushpizin?
ANSWER
Shlomo HaMelech is called the “root” of the 7 Ushpizin. The Ramchal (Pirush HaMitzvos 8, 9) says that Shlomo HaMelech appointed the 7 shepherds (the Ushpizin), and that Shlomo is the eighth of the Ushpizin, and the number 8 is the number of the future and the level of complete tikkun. As a hint, Shlomo’s mother was Bas Sheva – he is the product of 7, which is 8. Shlomo HaMelech was called by 7 names, as the Zohar says. Also, the Zohar elsewhere says that the Avos, Moshe, Aharon, Dovid and Shlomo are the 7 shepherds corresponding to the 7 Sefiros, and they came to the Succah [according to this view in the Zohar, Yosef is not counted in the Ushpizin and instead Shlomo is counted]. The Gra says that Shlomo is the foundation of all 7 shepherds. See sefer Tolaas Yaakov on Succos.
5 | Bilvavi 207-208 Bilvavi Q&A Succos 5782
QUESTION
Are Mashiach ben Yosef and Mashiach ben Dovid included in the Ushpizin?
ANSWER
Yes. Yosef is the root of Mashiach ben Yosef’s soul, and Dovid is the root of Mashiach ben Dovid’s soul.