Sukkot 5784

by Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields

On the Holiday of Sukkot, we live in our temporary dwelling places, called sukkot, reminiscent of the huts the Children of Israel dwelled in while wandering in the desert. We are all blessed to be able to live in warm homes, with firm roofs, and usually we never get wet. The week of Sukkot, when we eat, and some also sleep, in these temporary huts, we become aware of our many blessings – especially when it starts to rain, and the rain comes through our sechach, roof, and a huge gust of wind comes and blows over our sukkot. Sukkot reminds us that it is our responsibility, as we enjoy our food in our temporary sukkot, that we can return to our permanent homes, whenever we want; but there are many out there who do not have permanent homes, and always live in temporary shelters, not knowing when and where they will receive their next meal. Let us make it a priority this Sukkot, to make it our responsibility to find a shelter in our community and donate what is needed, and make a donation to help someone whose home is temporary, for more than one week.