Sukkot 5785

 

We are about to begin the holiday of Sukkot.  From My Jewish Learning, this is an overview of the holiday:

Beginning five days after Yom Kippur, Sukkot is named after the booths or huts (sukkot in Hebrew) in which Jews are supposed to dwell during this week-long celebration. According to rabbinic tradition, these flimsy sukkot represent the huts where the Israelites dwelt during their 40 years of wandering in the desert after escaping from slavery in Egypt. The festival of Sukkot is one of the three great pilgrimage festivals (chaggim or regalim) of the Jewish year.

Here is the link to the full article: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/sukkot-101/

By using the Sukkah, we glimpse the experience of our vulnerability.

And this moment of vulnerability requires us to think of those held captive.  We pray for and demand the release of the hostages.

We are told to eat at least one meal in the Sukkah.  On a lovely fall evening, you can see the stars through the Skach, covering the top.  But on cold or rainy evenings, it is another entirely different experience, and we certainly get the message of being vulnerable!  (By the way, our great sage, Maimonides, suggests strongly that when it’s rainy, go inside!)

One of the interesting aspects of “dwelling in the Sukkah” is the ritual of inviting the Ushpizin.  These are our revered forebears with whom we’d love to talk and glean some of their wisdom.  It started with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, and King David.  It is extended to include the great matriarchs Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Huldah, and Esther. And it is a chance to broaden the guest list even further.  I have invited loved ones, particularly my great-grandfather.  Who is on your guest list?

 

 

Shabbat Shuva Shalom

Shabbat Shuva, the Shabbat of Return, is the Shabbat between Rosh HaShannah and Yom Kippur.

Nesshama Carelbach’s beautiful rendition of her father’s song is a wonderful way to welcome us to this special time.

Close your eyes and become a part of this meditative experience.

G’mar chatima tova, May you have a good seal- May it be a year of health and blessing.

Shabbat Shalom

During Elul, we include Psalm 27 in our prayers.  Line 4 is most familiar, performed by the incomparable Chava Mirel and translated by Rabbi Rachel Barenblat:

Only one thing do I ask of You, Yah:
Just this alone do I seek, I want to be at home with you, Yah,
All the days of my life.
I want to delight in seeing You.
Seeing You when I come to visit You in Your temple.

Shabbat Shalom

Baruch Dayan HaEmet

 

Baruch Dayan HaEmet

We are heartbroken at the news of the murder of the six hostages, Eden Yerushalmi, Hirsch  Goldberg Polin, Ori Danino, Carmel Gat, Alexander Lobanov, and Almog Sururi.

In our grief, there is sorrow and anger.  In this moment, let us sit in the pain and pray for them.

Blessed is the true judge.