Sukkot the holiday of joy and unity is starting in just a couple of hours and it is bringing a very windy and wet friend along, in the form of a big northeaster storm which threaten to take down many Sukkahs and branches.
Entering in to the Sukkah on this holiday and being surrounded by the metaphoric embrace from G-d, while contemplating how G-d protected us from the elements for 40 years in the desert, and ever since then in so many ways, is one of the most powerful messages of the holiday.
As we remind ourselves of the fragility of the walls and roofs that surround us and remember that G-d is the ultimate protector, we celebrate and rejoice in knowing we can connect and be a part of such a great and joyous message and way of life.
We express that by celebrating and inviting as many as possible to join us in the Sukkah, a shelter of Unity, from all the chaos and discord that is out there in the world around us, and collectively give thanks and add joy to each others lives.
Yes, in recent years, the metaphoric storms, winds of hate seem to be blowing from so many directions, and the walls of our institutions and sense of security are at times shaken, as the conceptual storm coming from hate, bigotry and bias shakes our walls and loosens the covers that provide shelter in our lives.
Yet then comes Sukkot with its joyous and hope filled message of faith in the resilience we have been endowed with, to weather the storms, and keep moving forward onward and upwards with our mission in life of bettering ourselves and bettering the world around us.
So Northeaster or not, Sukkot is coming, and we will be celebrating, as we know despite all the stormwinds in the world, we are here to stay, and to march on bringing joy and blessings to the world around us.
Join us this evening at 6:30pm for a pre storm Kabbalat Shabbat and light refreshments in the modified Sukkah (the big one will go up on Tuesday G-d willing), and of course for all the other celebrations and services over the next few days.
Stop by anytime from Sunday and on, to shake and make a Blessing on the Lulav and have a bite in the Sukkah.
Shabbat Shalom & Chag Sameach
Yisroel