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October 18, 2024 - 16 Tishrei 5785 Sukkot - Renewing Ourselves on Sukkot
Dear Friends, This past Sunday, Tali, Jonah, and I did something none of us had ever done before. We built a Sukkah. 'Sure,' you're thinking, 'of course you built a Sukkah. You're a rabbinical family and it's the time of year where Jews everywhere are getting ready for Sukkot.' But, we had never done it before because we always used the Sukkah at the synagogue. In fact, every year at this time, we end up saying something like, "Next year we'll definitely put up a Sukkah," and we never have. At least, not until this year. This year we borrowed a Sukkah from friends who couldn't use it this year, and, eventually, the three of us figured it out. And, for us at least, it's a really big deal. While a Sukkah kit like the one we put together is probably pretty user-friendly, something that many, if not most folks, could figure out how to do with little to no help, this is one area where the Stroms are not like most folks. We are not the most handy, DIY-type folks, to put it very, very lightly. In fact, when I sent my parents a picture of our grand construction accomplishment, they responded by saying, "Are you sure you're our son?" So, yeah, we feel pretty proud of the little 12x8 Sukkah that fits like a glove on our deck. Cause we built it. Together. And it occurred to me how perfect this is for the themes and teachings behind the delightful, environmental, tailgating holiday we call Sukkot. We are commanded to build and dwell in, as much as humanly possible, a structure that is intentionally flimsy and capable of being toppled at any moment, for the duration of the holiday. The impermanence and vulnerability of the Sukkah, of course, reminds us that our bodies and lives, too, are temporary and vulnerable. Rather than lament this plain fact of existence, our tradition calls on us to celebrate this truth by acknowledging it, and then choosing to make the most of the time we do have. If we only have so many years to spend in this world, we should be joyful in it, grateful for it, taking care of it, and striving to leave it better for our children than how we found it. And for as long as we are here, each day is an opportunity to learn a new skill, to do something different, to take on a challenge you've put off for so long. As long as we're alive, it's never too late to do the thing you've never done. Like building a Sukkah itself. So yeah, maybe putting a Sukkah together isn't so hard for a lot of folks. But I'm proud of us. Now we know we can do it. Now, we're excited to celebrate this Sukkot with family and friends as it was intended. And we're excited for the future, for - God willing - the rest of the Sukkots of our lives that we will be able to celebrate together. Chag Sameach & Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Joshua Strom
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