Q:
What is the meaning of shaking the lulav in all different directions? What do we accomplish?
A:
And the answer is that there are a number of meanings. But one meaning is, the same as when we say kriyas shema. ‘Shema Yisroel … Hashem Echad.’ And Echad means, ‘You are One – north, south, east, west, above and below; in all directions there’s nobody but You.’ So we point the lulav in all directions; it’s exactly the same thing. ‘Hashem Echad,’ that’s what the lulav says.
And so by waving the arba minim in all the directions we’re accomplishing emunah. We’re thinking about the power of Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Hakadosh Baruch Hu is in the north, south, east, west. North means He’s in the North Pole. In case you happen to be stranded on the North Pole, Hakadosh Baruch Hu is there with you. If you’re taking a trip to the South Pole, you’ll find Him there too. If you go east to China, Hakadosh Baruch Hu is with you. If you go west. Wherever you’ll go you’ll find Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Ma’aleh, if you go up in a spaceship, or matah, wherever you go.
And when a person makes the naanuim and he recognizes that Hakadosh Baruch Hu is the Melech who is in power everywhere, so as a result Hakadosh Baruch Hu bestows on him the results, the good fortune and happiness that comes as a result of recognizing His power.
(September 1982)
