By Eli Bass, Director of Student Life
“You shall live in booths seven days; all citizens in Israel shall live in booths, in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I the LORD your God.”-Leviticus 23:42-43
Sukkot is the seven day festival where the Jewish people remember our exodus from Egypt, and our meager roots as an agrarian society.
It is a time where we are told to live away from the comforts of our homes and go live in a hut.
Sukkot in Jewish tradition gets several nicknames. It is often called the festival of booths.
Sukkot is also known as the time of our happiness.
The theme of happiness and living in a temporary shelter never fully made sense to me.
Sukkot falls immediately after Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. These are the days of the Jewish new year and day of repentance.
It is during this time when Jews traditionally believe that G-d makes decisions on who will live and who will die. It is a time where many Jews commit to be better as we start a new year. It is a
commitment to reflect and improve in our approach.
It is also a harvest celebration where in the land of Israel the final produce is harvested and Jewish prayers begin to ask for rain in the upcoming winter.
This rainfall is critical to success in each winter season for the crops.
After the challenging season of repentance, Sukkot sits as a last moment for repentance.
Being asked to live in a dwelling where you are required to see the stars puts you outside of the comfort of a home.
Creating hospitality, Jews welcome in friends and neighbors to join in on the celebration.
It is also not permissible to be in the sukkah in weather that is deeply uncomfortable.
At Sukkot we know part of the joy of living in a hut is that we have permanent shelter to return to.
It is also this lack of shelter which encourages us to welcome in strangers and engage with the world around us.
We are outside of our normal confines. This year at Sukkot we cannot help but have a bit of sadness.
Where the Jewish community prays for a rain that will sustain a successful harvest, we see neighbors who are suffering from a hard rain.
Hurricane and tropical storm Florence challenges us to consider the impacts of a difficult storm.
Florence is creating pain and we must stand with those experiencing pain.
At Sukkot we have many reminders that we are temporary.
Living in a shelter which requires seeing the stars also subjects us to the elements. I have tried to sleep out in a Sukkah many times and often experienced rain.
We are each subjected to the deep pain of the circumstances of our existence. A home near floodwaters, cancer, illness and other challenging circumstances can feel a bit random.
This morning I got to listen to and hear about the variety of faith leaders on the ground seeking to serve those who have had their lives turned upside-down.
A couple of years ago, I visited the site of a tornado.
Three years after the disaster, we were still gathering trash, planting trees and hauling debris.
We also were faced with the more severe and challenging effects of the disaster. Specifically, the mental toll of loss and pain on those who survive a challenging disaster.
We are taught in the Jewish book Pirkei Avot, which means wisdom of the fathers we are “not required to complete the work, nor are you free to desist from it.”
When there is a situation like Florence, we have an incredible power to create a better situation. I am donating to relief efforts.
I also feel it is very important to find resources which let us learn from the experiences of those who are experiencing this disaster.
I believe part of the time our happiness is finding ways to give when our abundance is able to support the happiness of others.
Wishing those who are celebrating a very happy sukkot holiday.
Sukkot occurs from September 23rd until September 30th.
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