Shabbat Greetings
This Shabbat Chol HaMoed Sukkot brings together two great thoughts — the calm embrace of Shabbat and the radiant joy of Z’man Simchateinu, the Season of our Rejoicing. The Midrash teaches that the sukkah is a symbol of divine protection — a reminder that even the most fragile structure becomes a sanctuary when God’s presence dwells within it.
As we sit beneath the s’chach, gazing at the sky through its open roof, we’re reminded that true security and happiness don’t come from what shields us from the world, but from our faith, our relationships, and our gratitude for each new day. The sukkah teaches us to live with openness, humility and joy, even amidst life’s uncertainties.
Sukkot invites us to step outside — literally and spiritually. We leave the security of our homes to dwell in a sukkah, a space open to the wind, the stars, and sometimes the rain. It’s a radical act of faith and openness: a statement that even when life feels uncertain, we trust that we are held by something greater than ourselves. The sukkah has no solid roof — it lets the world in. During Sukkot, we open our hearts just as we open our doors to guests (ushpizin). Openness means allowing others’ stories, needs, and presence into our lives. It’s about recognizing that holiness often enters through the spaces we leave unguarded.
The sukkah is temporary and fragile — and that’s the point. It reminds us of our own vulnerability and dependence on God. As the Midrash teaches, the sukkah represents the Clouds of Glory that surrounded Israel in the desert — protection not built by human hands. Humility on Sukkot means acknowledging that our strength, success, and comfort all rest on divine grace and the kindness of others.
Sukkot is Z’man Simchateinu, the “Season of our Joy.” But it is not a joy that comes from perfection. Rather, it’s joy born from gratitude. Sitting under a makeshift roof, eating simple food, surrounded by loved ones, we realize this: this is enough. True joy is not having everything; it’s appreciating everything.
So to live with openness, humility and joy during means: to open our hearts to the world around us; to walk gently, knowing that life is both fragile and sacred; and to celebrate what we have, not what we lack.
On this Shabbat, may we carry the peace of Shabbat and the joy of Sukkot into our homes and hearts. May our sukkot and our lives be filled with light, laughter and the divine presence; and may we all merit to feel the divine presence resting gently upon us.
Shabbat Shalom u’Moadim L’Simcha
May your joy be abundant and your rest complete.