Rabbi's Week in Review Blog

The beauty of the Jewish calendar is the way in which it flows from an emotional perspective.  Having completed the difficult and burdening task of self-reflection that comes with the somber day of Yom Kippur, we can now turn to Sukkot. We refer to Sukkot as Z’man Simchateinu — the season of our joy. We are commanded to be happy on Sukkot.

How come? After the promises we made to ourselves, G-d and others to do better and act better in the coming year, Sukkot gives us the immediate opportunity to act on our promises.  We invite the stranger into our sukkah — to welcome guests and, particularly, the ones not like us.  

We also experience the flow of the seasons. Sukkot is a harvest festival. Our sukkah, our booth, was built by farmers to sleep out in the fields during the fall harvest. Our earth, when we honor the gift that it is, provides wondrous opportunities for beauty and meaning.

May we see beyond the challenges of the present day to experience the happiness and beauty of our Sukkot celebration.