* Translated by Janine Muller Sherr
We are living through turbulent, stressful, and challenging days,
and tomorrow night we will be celebrating the festival of Sukkot. How do we make this internal transition?
Sukkot carries a fundamental message that can give us strength during these days and impact how we view our current situation:
The sukkah that we will enter tomorrow night for seven days is a small, temporary structure that reminds us of the larger story of our history, which began with our exodus from Egypt. At that time, we embarked on a long journey through the desert and throughout that period we lived in sukkot. God gave us the Torah and led us to the Land of Israel.
For thousands of years, we’ve experienced ups and downs, struggled and flourished through countless crises, all the while demonstrating fortitude and loyalty to God. From the days of the desert and throughout the centuries of our exile, our ancestors have sat in sukkot, from Iran to Poland, and have passed on our story to the next generation.
The sukkah reminds us that while all of the world’s mighty empires have collapsed disappeared, this small nation— with its sukkah that appears so fragile—has proven to be the most stable and eternal. Our nation has values and holiness stronger than any fortress or weapon.
We are also preparing to observe the mitzvah of the Arba Mimim—the Four Species—which are symbolic of the different types of Jews. This mitzvah reminds us that each and every Jew plays an important role in the story of our people and no force in the world can ever divide us or destroy our caring for one another.
Finally, the mitzvah that permeates the holiday of Sukkot is joy. This holiday is known as “Zeman Simchateinu” (the Season of our Rejoicing) and has cultivated hope and optimism throughout the generations.
For thousands of years we’ve been praying for a Sukkah of peace, as we say in our prayers—“Spread over us your canopy of peace.”
The festival of Sukkot that we will celebrate tomorrow is not disconnected from our reality. It is and has always been, our reality.
Chag Sameach and besorot tovot!
