1)

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TAKING THE FOUR SPECIES TOGETHER

ארבעה מינין שבלולב ב' מהן עושין פירות וב' מהן אינן עושין פירות העושין פירות יהיו זקוקין לשאין עושין פירות ושאין עושין פירות יהיו זקוקין לעושין פירות ואין אדם יוצא ידי חובתו בהן עד שיהו כולן באגודה אחת וכן ישראל בהרצאה עד שיהו כולן באגודה אחת שנאמר (עמוס ט) הבונה בשמים מעלותיו ואגודתו על ארץ יסדה:
Translation: Two of the four species [taken on Sukos] come from trees that bear fruit, and two come from barren trees. Those that bear fruit require those that do not bear fruit, and vice-versa. One is Yotzei only if they are bound together. Similarly, Yisrael are pleasing to Hash-m only when they are in one Agudah (group) - "ha'Boneh va'Shamayim Ma'alosav va'Agudaso Al Eretz Yesadah."
(a)

What is the meaning of 'Yisrael are pleasing to Hash-m...'?

1.

Rashi: When they fast, they are answered only if they are in one Agudah, Tzadikim and Resha'im, similar to those that bear fruit and those that do not bear fruit.

i.

Maharsha: They must be together, to atone for each other.

ii.

Daf Al ha'Daf citing Shem mi'Shmuel (Simchah Torah): Even sinners of Yisrael are full of Mitzvos like a pomegranate (Eruvin 19a). Each is graced with a different [good] Midah - this one with Tzedakah, this one with Chesed... When they are in one Agudah, with Shalom, they join to one complete stature. They are like one man who fulfills all the Mitzvos, so automatically they are pleasing to Hash-m!

iii.

Chashukei Chemed: How do Tzadikim need Resha'im? Yisrael is compared to a vine. The branches are working men. The clusters are Chachamim. The leaves are ignoramuses. The small branches are empty people (who lack Torah and Mitzvos). The clusters must pray for the leaves. Without the leaves, there would not be clusters (Chulin 92a). SMaG (Ase 44) explains that Chachamim must pray for Ba'alei ha'Bayis to be saved from punishments. They give money to the kingdom and Chachamim. Amei ha'Aretz plow and seed; this enables Chachamim to learn. Ben Yehoyada explains, "Ein Tzadik ba'Aretz Asher Ya'aseh Tov v'Lo Yecheta." A Tzadik with some sins, Hash-m compares him to Resha'im, and he is considered a total Tzadik - "ka'Anavim ba'Midbar Matzasi Yisrael." It is even greater if he does not learn from the Resha'im - "Im Lavan Garti", and Taryag Mitzvos Shamarti. Noach was "Tzadik b'Dorosav" - in a generation of Tzadikim, he would not have been considered a Tzadik. This can bring Tzadikim to love Resha'im, and then it is possible to rebuke them. If they do not accept rebuke, "Mesan'echa Hash-m Esna."

iv.

Chashukei Chemed citing Halichos Shlomo (Mo'adim, Tishrei 7 (104)): The four Minim hint to the four kinds of Jews (some have Torah and good deeds, some have only Torah, some have only good deeds, and some have neither). We are Yotzei only if all are in one Agudah. To arouse love between them, the Torah was Mekadesh the Minim (Hash-m's name is on them; they are Muktzah for the Mitzvah during Sukos. One may not benefit from them), to show that this love is like Chibas ha'Kodesh. It is not merely Chibah of Mitzvah. Death of a Yisrael is like a Sefer Torah that was burned. All the more so a living Jew is Kadosh like a Sefer Torah!

(b)

What do we learn from the verse?

1.

Rashi: When they are bound together, they have a foundation.