Dear all,
Just as we come to the end of our Days of Awe—Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur—we now enter the festival of Sukkot. I find it spiritually uplifting and emotionally calming to observe Sukkot so close to the Holy Days.
The liturgy of Yom Kippur can feel heavy and, at times, rigid. Is it really as simple as the prayer suggests—that our deeds determine who will live and who will die?
Sukkot offers a different theology. We read Ecclesiastes, which reminds us that sometimes things just happen, regardless of what we do. But Ecclesiastes also reminds us to embrace each moment in time—to recognize the opportunities in front of us and not let them pass us by.
Our Jewish calendar opens up what my sister calls a “map of the soul.” Every thought and emotion has its corresponding holiday.
If you want to stimulate your mind, study on Shavuot.
If you want to make our ancient texts come alive, join a Passover Seder.
If you want to feast, eat latkes on Chanukkah.
And if you want to be reminded to appreciate the moment, sit in a sukkah.
Perhaps that is one of the gifts of Sukkot. After the intensity of the Holy Days, Judaism invites us to step outside, sit beneath a fragile roof, and simply notice what is here.
May this Sukkot give us the opportunity to slow down, appreciate the blessings around us, and embrace the moments we are given.
Chag Sukkot Sameach,
Rabbi Zachary R. Shapiro
