Celebrating Sukkot: A Time of Joy, Reflection, and Gratitude

The tense and angst-ridden holidays of Rosh Hashanah are behind us.  We move immediately into the joyous holiday of Sukkot.  Tonight, we are invited to step outside of our homes and into a temporary shelter—the sukkah—and reconnect with the deep spiritual rhythms that this joyous festival brings. Sukkot, often called "Zman Simchateinu," the time of our rejoicing, is a holiday that blends joy with profound meaning, helping us reflect on our dependence on God and the abundance of blessings in our lives.

Sukkot is one of the three pilgrimage festivals, along with Passover and Shavuot, mentioned in the Torah. In the book of Leviticus, we are commanded to dwell in booths (sukkot) for seven days to remember how our ancestors lived in temporary shelters during their 40 years of wandering in the desert after leaving Egypt (Leviticus 23:42-43). These sukkot served as a reminder of the fragile, yet nurturing, protection of God that sustained the Israelites during their journey to the Promised Land.

At the same time, Sukkot is an agricultural holiday, coinciding with the fall harvest. Known as the "Feast of Ingathering," it was a time when farmers brought in the last crops of the season, celebrating the bounty of the land and offering thanksgiving to God for the sustenance provided.

One of the central mitzvot of Sukkot is to build and dwell in a sukkah. The sukkah reminds us of both our ancestors' temporary shelters and our existence's fragility. In a world that often encourages us to find security in material possessions and the permanence of our homes, the sukkah humbles us by exposing us to the elements, reminding us that true security and protection come from God.

Sitting in the sukkah with family and friends, sharing meals and stories, also allows us to cultivate gratitude for what we have. It is a place where we can experience simple joys while reflecting on the broader purpose of our lives. During Sukkot, we invite special guests, or ushpizin, both physical and spiritual, into our sukkah. Traditionally, these guests include the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph, and David, and prophetesses, Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail Hulda, and Esther,  In modern times, many add inspiring figures from Jewish history or even personal role models.

Another iconic ritual of Sukkot is the waving of the Four Species, which includes the lulav (palm branch), hadas (myrtle), aravah (willow), and etrog (citron). Together, these four species represent different aspects of creation and the Jewish people, and by waving them in six directions—north, south, east, west, up, and down—we symbolically recognize God's presence everywhere.

Though Sukkot comes after the solemn days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, it is marked by joy rather than solemnity. We move from reflection and repentance to celebration and gratitude. The themes of vulnerability and abundance, of fragility and joy, intertwine as we celebrate both the spiritual and physical harvests of the year.

As we prepare to enter this sacred season, may we each find moments of deep joy and reflection.  We have arranged for many opportunities to participate in both the mitzvah of sitting/eating in the Sukkah at Midbar Kodesh Temple and the shaking of the lulav and etrog.  Please check your emails for all our Sukkot worship services and programming.

Wishing you all a Chag Sameach, a joyous and meaningful Sukkot!

Rabbi Bradley Tecktiel