Rabbi's Week in Review Blog

We celebrate Sukkot this week — Z’man Simchateinu, the Season of Our Joy. We are actually commanded toward happiness, a happiness derived from welcoming guests into our sukkah. Our booth becomes a place of G-d’s sheltering presence for everyone, for the strangers in our midst.  

Through the generosity of Josh Sipp and Savannah Kannberg, along with Josh’s creativity and skill, we have a new sukkah. It is in the community garden in Manheim Park. In addition to gathering for Shabbat-Sukkot in the garden this coming Friday evening, you can drop by the garden anytime during this wonderful festival period, which runs through next Tuesday (or Wednesday for more traditional Jews living outside Israel).  

I know the reality is that, following Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, this holiday does not always grab everyone’s attention. However, it should be seen as the logical and important follow-up to Yom Kippur. After the hard work of fasting, atonement and making vows for the coming year, Sukkot gives us an immediate opportunity to do better.   

Sukkot also helps lift our mood following Yom Kippur. Given all that we have been through in our world, and all that we are still dealing with, we could use a bit of joy in our lives. Chag Sukkot Sameach!