provided for Yidden who were single-mindedly devoted to Hakadosh Baruch Hu, while the tribe of Dan harbored one with idolatrous tendencies: Micha. Shevet Dan was tasked with the mitzvah of hashavas aveidah, and they collected any lost objects they found along the way. At one point of the journey, the Amalekim grossly attacked the outlying shevet, and it is our Dani brethren whom we recall when we think of the Amalekim who viciously waged war on the “the stragglers at your rear.” In defense of the tribe of Dan, Moshe Rabbeinu instructed Aharon to take men of war and leave the clouds to fight on their behalf. Despite Dan’s previous transgression, we need not worry ourselves over the ultimate fate of the tribe, for Shevet Dan possesses within themselves the strength of Shimshon — a supernatural strength to overcome obstacles. The story of Dan is the story of the baal teshuvah, the story of rising above the temptations of this world after succumbing to them. Dan — originally the spiritually lowest of the tribes — will be elevated to a place of prominence in the future, for it will be a man of Yehudah and a woman of Dan who will be zoche to be the parents of a child for whom we all wait: Melech HaMoshiach himself. Then — may it be soon! — we will see with our eyes the return of the Ananei Hakavod, which represent Hashem’s presence, and we will merit to bask their glow, as we say in davening, “Ohr chadash al Tzion ta’ir, v’nizkeh kulanu meheirah l’orah — May You shine a new light on Zion and may we all merit speedily from its radiance.”
In Commemoration of the Ananei Hakavod Every year when we enter the sukkah, we commemorate the Ananei Hakavod, declaring that just as Hashem provided for us with great love in the desert, so too, we believe, will He continue to always provide for us. For it isn’t the strength of our walls or the roof over our head that gives security; it is our true Security — Hashem — who lends walls their strength and ensures a roof over our head! Because the Ananei Hakavod and the sukkah represent complete faith in Hashem, as well as the purity of servitude, the Gemara says that the nations of the world will be given one chance to fulfill this mitzvah in the tekufah shel Moshiach. This will occur when those who never accepted upon themselves the commandments of the Torah and also didn’t fulfill the sheva mitzvos bnei Noach will beg for a chance to prove their sincerity. Hashem will allow them to build sukkahs, but will send an unbearably hot sun to beat down upon them, causing those who had never truly rejected idol worship and embraced Hashem to angrily leave the sukkah, kicking it as they go. In that moment, their true feelings will be expressed, and Hashem will point to the Yidden who fulfill the mitzvos with joy, using them as an example of those who truly love Him and His Torah.
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This article is a compilation of many different meforshim on the subject of the Ananei Hakavod.
September 17, 2021
The Monsey View
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