How will we find rest in a world so tormented? How will those who have suffered terrible losses recently in the Navy Yard, ever recover?
How will we ever comprehend that a dictator in Syria could kill thousands of his own people without mercy?
When we gather to celebrate the festival of Sukkot and Shabbat it is such a contrast to the world out there.
Is it our escape from reality or is it something deeper? Can we, for our time here on earth create a holy space, an hours time, a day when we can disengage from this unexplainable and violent world? Can we offer the hope and the presence of the eternal in our midst? Can we create the beauty of the taste of a heavenly feast, in the little time we exist?
We never know about tomorrow, yet, we hold on to the Torah which we believe is eternal. The Torah gives us a standard of ethical living and a heritage.
In the Torah we learn that even God can regret something, or change direction.
Which Gate will we enter as the Gates close? Will we make ourselves reasonable and enjoy our lives, family, friends, our lot in life? Or will we be driven to be depressed by our endless needs and demands, stresses and violence we see in the world?
During the festival of Sukkot we celebrate the harvest season, and recognize that it is a mirror of nature and human experience.
The flimsy Sukkah, our shelter cannot protect us from everything, but like life itself, offers so much beauty and richness.
Let us invite our sacred ancestors as guests into our Sukkah as we celebrate the Torah and the Harvest season.
Let us leave the difficulties of life at the entrance to the Sukkah, the shelter which is divine, so that we can sing, dance, and enjoy these special moments of life together.
Chag Sam’e’ach – Happy Sukkot
May the Shelter of the Sukkah guard you as you enjoy this harvest season.
With Blessings,
Rabbi Arnold Saltzman