Sukkot is one of my favorite holidays. It’s part of the season called Z’man Simchateinu, the “Season of our Joy.” Sukkot is purposely joyful to follow Yom Kippur’s solemn mood. In Leviticus 23:40ff, we learn to spend time in a sukkah, take up the four species (etrog, palm, willow, and myrtle) and “rejoice before God.” But it’s difficult to rejoice with three branches and a piece of fruit; after all, today’s VR (virtual reality) and video games are just no match. For sure, the rabbis didn’t have VR and video games, but even they sought to integrate these instructions with personal ways to share God’s joy.

In one interpretation, the rabbis taught us to know God’s joy by seeing ourselves in the commandment. After all, the holiday isn’t about tree branches; it’s about celebrating our relationship with God. By way of an analogy, the rabbis equated Torah knowledge with edible fruit, namely, palm and etrog; and (mitzvah) good deeds with a sweet aroma, namely, myrtle and etrog. Only the willow branch has neither edible fruit nor sweet aroma. So they taught, there are four kinds of people: those like the etrog, who have Torah knowledge and good deeds; the myrtle, with good deeds, but no Torah knowledge; the palm, with Torah knowledge, but no good deeds; and the willow, with no Torah knowledge and no good deeds (PDK Piska 27).

At our best, we are like the etrog, with Torah knowledge and good deeds. And, yet, in the same way that we hold the four species in a cluster, we also bind ourselves to a community of people. The rabbis teach us that the Jewish people can never be destroyed as long as we’re bound together.

“Bound together” is a theme that must prevail while Israel contorts itself around matters of judicial reform and wrestles with its democratic future. At Congregation Beth Israel, we support a democratic Israel that confirms the rights of its citizens in judicial reform that preserves Basic Laws and upholds progressive norms enjoyed by the majority of Israelis.

On October 7, 2023, at 7:00pm, you’re invited to join me and other Israel supporters for a rally organized by unXeptable.org, a largely Israeli ex-pat group working in local cities around America to stand for democracy and reason in Israel. Located at 24 Greenway Plaza (on Cummins Green Street) at the Israeli Consulate building, we’ll rally and hear from Israel supporters, including me.

On October 7^th, we’ll also celebrate Simchat Torah, the beginning of a new Torah reading cycle. Beginning again can be hard, but it’s worth every effort to find the gems in Judaism that originate in Torah and are preserved in Jewish life, notably in Israel. When we live in community and bind ourselves to each other, we find the strength we need to overcome almost anything. Not alone, but together, we find our strength and our blessing. Which part of the lulav are you? Be like an etrog and share Torah knowledge and good deeds with everyone who’s touched by your life. At this season of our joy, Z’man Simchateinu, we wish you Mo’adim L’Simchah, Happy Holidays!