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October 14, 2022 (19 Tishrey 5783) The Sounds of Sukkot Dear Holy Friends, I hope this correspondence finds you doing well and enjoying a festive holiday season! Please join us this Shabbat for in-person services in our sanctuary, which will also be available over our regular Zoom prayer link. Additionally, we will join for Shemini Atzeret services on Monday, which will include Yizkor. Finally, on Tuesday, we will conclude the lengthy holiday season with our Simchat Torah celebration, including Hakafot. One of the most challenging parts of teaching in a Jewish high school is creating daily prayer services that are meaningful and uplifting. During Sukkoth, the problem is exacerbated by the increased volume of the liturgy, which includes Hallel, Hoshanoth and Musaf. The service easily takes an hour and frankly, none of the staff look forward to it. This year, in my new role as Rosh Tefila, I decided that we could potentially enliven the experience for the students by adding what I like to call, “the Sounds of Sukkoth.” This past week, on Wednesday, we brought in the Jewish a cappella group, Six13. Six13 is a New York-based Jewish, all-male a cappella singing group. Formed in 2003, the six-voice group is known for parodying contemporary pop songs by adding Jewish themes and lyrics. It also sings cover versions of pop hits and Yiddish and Israeli classics, and produces original compositions based on traditional Jewish prayers. They were phenomenal and one student commented that he had never felt so connected to the prayers, especially during Hallel. On Friday, our minyan was enhanced by our in-house school band and vocalists, who chanted sections of the Psalms and concluded the service with a Jewish medley originally composed by Neshama Carlebach. That service also “rocked.” While I felt great about our successful minyanim, I realized that the concept of “the Sounds of Sukkoth” traces itself back to the times of the Mishna, which describes an elaborate sound and light show called Simchat Beit HaShoeiva, that took place in Jerusalem. The Mishna describes that at the conclusion of the first day of the holiday Menoroth of gold were set up in the Women’s section of the Temple. The Menoroth had special basins at the top of each branch and the youngest of the Kohanim would come and fill them up with oil. Four ladders surrounded each Menorah and once lit, there was not a courtyard in all of Jerusalem that was not illuminated by those candelabra. Next, the Levites would stand on the fifteen steps of the Temple entrance and play violins, trumpets, lyres, and musical instruments “too many to count.” The Kohanim, at the end of the celebration, would then sound their shofars from the very top step overlooking the gathered masses. Finally, the Mishna concludes that one who never witnessed the celebration, has never experienced true joy in their lifetime. Sounds like fun to me! While we can no longer experience those “Sounds of Sukkoth,” we can nonetheless take the opportunity this week, on Tuesday, to join as a community for Hakafot, while raising our voices in celebration as we complete and then immediately restart the annual cycle of Torah readings. May the last days of the holiday season bring you unbridled joy and happiness. As it says in the Devarim 16, וְשָׂמַחְתָּ֖ בְּחַגֶּ֑ךָ, rejoice in your holidays and you will be happy! Shabbat Shalom and Moadim L’Simcha! Rabbi Eric Wasser, EdD, Hon.DM
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