Rabbi Yair Robinson 

Sukkot 2024 

Why yes, we are, in fact, in the midst of another holiday. The Jewish month of Tishrei is a marathon and a sprint, with one observance or celebration after another. So here we are, after all the drama of the High Holy Days, finding ourselves in the much quieter, gentler festival of Sukkot. This holiday we build those gossamer structures by the same name, and dwell in them as best as we can (when we are not chased inside from rain, or cold, or bees). We find ourselves surrounded on all sides by the fragile structure of the sukkah, mindful of our vulnerability, but still protected from the elements. It is as if, after the heavy spiritual lifting of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we are held with love, comforted, embraced. It serves as a powerful denouement from the intensity of Yom Kippur.  

Traditionally, we call Sukkot z’man simchateinu, a time of our joy, which feels like a strange description of the holiday. Relief of having gotten through the yammim noraim to be sure, but joy? Where is the joy, especially this year, between the election and its tumult and the memory of last year’s Simchat Torah still ash in our mouths, and all the destruction that has taken place since? Where is the joy?  

We find the joy in one of the traditions of Sukkot, one that is terribly relevant to us. There is a tradition of ushpizin, of welcoming guests—including spiritual guests—into our sukkah. Whether that is our Biblical ancestors like the matriarchs and patriarchs or, as some have suggested, welcoming the hostages into our sukkah, or welcoming our friends and family to be with us, that shared experience—breaking bread together, dwelling together and, just, appreciating one another, is a joyful and sacred experience.  

But there is more. In addition to welcoming all those I have already described; we are also compelled to welcome the poor and share our bounty with them as well. The text of the Peninei Halakha, a contemporary work of practical halakha written by Eliezer Melamed, teaches that we are not just supposed to care for the poor and needy in our midst, and make sure their needs are met: “we must make sure to bring joy to the poor” as well.  Think for a moment about that idea: not just to provide for the basics for the needy, but to make sure that they have joy in their lives as well. So much of our infrastructure to help the poor, the unhoused, and the needy acts as if joy is incidental, except maybe for children, and that joy should somehow be rationed. And so we are reminded of the words of Rebbe Nachman of Bratzlav: Joy is not merely incidental, but essential.  

As the leaves change and we move through Sukkot into the winter, there are increasing opportunities to help the poor: through Joseph’s Pantry, through Family Promise, through our interfaith meal packing program, and participating in these programs may bring us joy, but we should enter them and do the work with the goal of bringing joy to those in need. In this way, we fulfill the mitzvah and truly celebrate this holiday, this z’man simchateinu, our time of Joy. Amen.