A message for Sukkot from Rabbi Ben Newman:
“To everything, there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven…”— Ecclesiastes
As we move deeper into the fall season, the Jewish tradition marks this time by building temporary dwellings, or Sukkot. On this festival named after these impermanent structures, we read the book of Ecclesiastes where we are reminded of the truth that whatever we are experiencing “this too shall pass.” We celebrate by sitting and eating in Sukkot, and shaking 4 harvest plants native to Israel, a citron, Myrtle, willow, and palm in 6 directions in memory of the ancient prayers for rain.
This year at the Shames JCC we have built a beautiful new sukkah to remind us that however difficult life may be there will be brighter days ahead— we should never give up hope for a better future. May you have a joyous Sukkot! If you would like to try eating or just sitting in a sukkah, there are still spots available to reserve some time in our new JCC sukkah this week or join me at meditation in the sukkah on Thursday.
