Sukkot newsletter

Shalom,

As we embrace the holiday of Sukkot, we spend time in the Sukkah.  The commandments associated with the holiday charge us to sit (or dwell) in the Sukkah and to shake the lulav and etrog, which represent the arbah minim - four species of the Land of Israel.  There are many ideas and physical things that the Sukkah represents for us.  Some put forth the argument that this temporary dwelling was the shelter for our ancient Israelite ancestors as they traveled.  Others contend these simple structures served as harvest booths in the agricultural past of our people.  It is certain that both of these teach us about our past and the way our people used the Sukkah.  Yet, there are even more lessons to be learned.  It is fitting that immediately after the hard spiritual work of the High Holiday season - Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur - that we build this fragile and impermanent structure.  Just at the time we are rebuilding our spiritual selves post Teshuvah, we symbolically build with a focus on the impermanent, on the fragile.

I once engaged some young members of our community about the differences between a house and a home.  One student responded, “House is a thing or place, while home is a feeling.”  The Sukkah represents both.  It is at one point a thing, a fragile, impermanent shelter reminding us of the challenges of the physical world.  Yet, it is also a feeling of Divine protection, the connection of community and our connection to the natural world and its cycles.  We encourage you to stop by any time this week to shake the lulav and Etrog in the Sukkah.    

Moadim L’Simcha - May your Seasonal Transitions be Full of Joy,

Rabbi Evon