Rabbi’s Reflections on Sukkot: One Year Ago
By Rabbi Jon Hanish (10/15/24)
A year ago, I endured my third of six rounds of chemotherapy.
A year ago, I could barely move from my bed to my couch without exhaustion overwhelming me.
A year ago, I purchased a new sukkah.
In the midst of experiencing extreme physical weakness and contemplating the limited nature of life, I was determined to build a new home – just like my ancestors did – I wanted a sukkah unlike any I had in the past. I wanted a new temporary shelter. I said goodbye to the bent poles of a 20 year old sukkah. Out with the old and in with the new. I purchased a new sukkah kit. I didn’t have the strength to pick it up so friend and congregant Adam Friedman drove it over. He offered to help me build it but I didn’t have the strength that day and wanted to be part of the process. I was not going to have someone else put it up.
A few days later, I enlisted a visiting cousin and my wife, and together we set out to build this new edifice. Now, I’d like to claim it was an architectural achievement, but it was a much simpler structure than my prior sukkah. We were done in under an hour. And, while I’d like to think I did most of the heavy lifting, I can’t guarantee that I did. Those days remain foggy in my memory. Nonetheless, I was proud of it, proud of the fact that somehow, the holiday was not going to pass me by. I was going to honor the mitzvah of dwelling in a sukkah – in a sukkah I put together with a little help from family.
For the next week, I had a third stop in my daily route – from bed, to couch, to sukkah. That last stop made me feel whole. In a folding chair under a canopy of thatch, I contemplated the beauty of being outdoors, of being alive, of seeing another day. I invited in ushpizin, honored guests, in the form of memories of past sukkot celebrations with family, friends, congregants, and classmates. I remembered the joy of evenings spent outside having a drink or two or three after eating too much food… I remembered singing songs until late into the night… I remembered waving the lulav and etrog too many times in order to teach others… I remembered elaborate meal planning… I remembered so many moments of joy and happiness and fun that occurred in the sukkah.
I remembered.
And, I felt blessed.
Before Sukkot starts on Wednesday night, I’ll pull out my now one-year-old sukkah. It became part of my life when I was ill. Now, it is part of my life, life in remission. Whatever my state of being, I will dwell in it alone and with others in order to share the joys of sukkot.
May your sukkah give you the same comfort mine gave me just 12 months ago.
Sukkot beings Wednesday night.
Kol Tikvah’s Sukkot service, followed by a community celebration, will take place on October 18 at 5:30 p.m. RSVP here.
Kol Tikvah’s Sukkot Yizkor will take place on October 23 at 7:00 p.m. Prior to the service, join us in the sukkah at 6:00 p.m. for a Wine & Cheese Gathering. RSVP here.
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SUMMARY OF SUKKOT FROM THE URJ
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