During the holiday of Sukkot, the Torah commands the offering of seventy sacrifices in the Holy Temple—thirteen on the first day, twelve on the second, and so forth, decreasing each day until seven on the seventh day (Numbers 29). The Zohar (Pinchas) explains that these seventy offerings correspond to the seventy root nations of the world. Each sacrifice was a spiritual rectification (tikkun), drawing the Light of mercy (Chassadim) from the upper worlds to bless and sustain all humanity. Though Israel offered them, their purpose was universal—to maintain balance among the nations, sweeten harsh decrees, and open channels of peace.

Kabbalistically, each of the seventy nations represents a unique vessel within the structure of Malchut, the collective soul of creation. Without the flow from Israel, the central channel aligned with Zeir Anpin, these vessels remain in spiritual darkness. The Holy Ari teaches that Sukkot is a time when the Light of Binah descends into Malchut, and through the Temple service, Israel became a conduit for Hashem’s blessing to spread across all realms. The seventy sacrifice (korbanot) thus served as a spiritual offering of Chessed—not merely ritual acts, but channels of universal harmony that upheld the spiritual infrastructure of the world.

In the absence of the Temple, the Zohar teaches that our prayers, Torah study, and rejoicing in the sukkah now perform the same spiritual role. When we study the Torah portions of the Sukkot sacrifices, we awaken their spiritual energy and send renewed Light to the world. Every act of joy, unity, and hospitality in the sukkah draws divine compassion upon all creation. Thus, Sukkot is not only a holiday of Jewish joy but a cosmic celebration of divine abundance, preparing the world for the ultimate redemption when all nations will recognize the Source of Light and sing together in harmony.

“For then I will turn to the peoples a pure language, that they may all call upon the Name of Hashem, to serve Him with one accord.” (Zephaniah 3:9)
“כִּי אָז אֶהְפֹּךְ אֶל עַמִּים שָׂפָה בְרוּרָה, לִקְרֹא כֻּלָּם בְּשֵׁם ה’, לְעָבְדוֹ שְׁכֶם אֶחָד.” 

“And Hashem will be King over all the earth; on that day Hashem will be One and His Name One.” (Zechariah 14:9)
“וְהָיָה ה’ לְמֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ, בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה ה’ אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד.”

 

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