Sukkot (September 26, 2026)

By Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields

Sukkot is called Zman Simchateinu, the season of our joy, yet it is also a time of vulnerability. We leave the stability of our homes and dwell in a sukkah with fragile walls and a roof open to the sky. This physical exposure invites spiritual honesty: we are reminded that security is ultimately not in structures, but in our relationship with God.

In this setting, Shema Koleinu—“hear our voice”—takes on special meaning. In the sukkah, our prayers feel more immediate, less shielded by routine or permanence. We sit under the s’chach, the roof of the sukkah, aware of the heavens above, and speak to God with simplicity and trust, asking that our voices be received with compassion.

Sukkot also emphasizes hospitality through ushpizin, the symbolic welcoming of guests. Just as we open our sukkah to others, we also ask God to open divine attention to us. Shema Koleinu becomes a mutual act of openness: we welcome others into our space, and we ask to be welcomed into God’s presence.

Together, Sukkot and Shema Koleinu teach that joy and vulnerability are intertwined. When we let go of control and speak honestly from within life’s uncertainty, we discover that we are held, heard, and accompanied—transforming fragility into deep spiritual connection and joy.