Sukkot
– An Important Message for Our Time
Sukkot,
a Hebrew word meaning "booths" or "huts," refers to the
Jewish festival of giving thanks for the fall harvest. It also
commemorates the 40 years of Jewish wandering in the desert after the giving of
the Torah atop Mt. Sinai. Sukkot is celebrated five days after Yom Kippur
on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei (this year
corresponding to September 21st).
Of all the holidays on the Jewish calendar, the one the Torah
singled out most strongly for worldwide significance is Sukkot.
Sukkot
is marked by several distinct traditions. One tradition, which takes the
commandment to dwell in booths literally, is to erect a sukkah, a small,
temporary booth or hut. For
thousands of years Jews have observed the Torah commandment to leave the
comfort and security of their homes and eat in this specially constructed outdoor
hut. In this year of coronavirus, this mitzvah
no longer seems strange. There is so
much in this world that we take for granted as if it were ours by automatic
right or well-deserved reward. We complain about the things we lack and hardly
ever take the time to thank G-d for the priceless favors and blessings bestowed
upon us. The holiday of Sukkot is
the time to acknowledge the source of “the harvest” of our lives, the divine
gifts that make our lives possible and pleasurable. Renew your strength and courage. Inspire
yourself. Ignite the spark that lies within your soul.
Sukkot
asks us to temporarily go outside, look around at G-d’s creations, “dine out
doors” with your family, in a sukkah from which you can gaze up, see
heaven above and be reminded of G-d as well as your blessings. This
has been a challenging time for all of us. Life is not always easy, but by
remembering that there is something more, something that goes beyond our
limited vision of the world, we can begin to get a glimpse of how G-d sees the
bigger picture. Living with this
awareness of G-d enables us to thrive, not just survive. Let us take some time to reflect on this past
year and discover all the hidden treasures you may have forgotten.
Sukkot,
coming right after Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, might just be
the one Jewish holiday that has the most to teach the entire world about the
real meaning of happiness. These
days, we need unity more than ever. Stop judging. Start loving. Call someone
you know who is alone. Reach out to a friend. Give a good word, a smile. G-d grants us peace when there is peace
amongst us. Seize the moment. Unity brings peace. Peace brings strength.
May
the words recited at the end of reading each book of the Torah inspire you:
Chazak,
chazak, v’nitchazeik. “Be strong, be strong, and we will strengthen each
other.”
Rabbi Stuart Paris, HaKohen
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