Parsha Talk Pre - Sukkot 5785 2024

Parsha Talk with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. Tomorrow night [Wednesday, October 16, 2024] begins the holiday of Sukkot, known in Jewish tradition as z’man simchateinu, the time of our rejoicing. The concluding days, Thursday and Friday, October 24-25, are Sh’mini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. Every year, these latter days mark the end of the long holiday season, which may be said to have begun on the first day of the month of Elul, the month preceding Tishri, when the shofar is first blown in the morning service to announce the upcoming penitential season. This year, they also mark the date on the Hebrew calendar on which the October 7th War began. How does one find joy amidst such sorrow? We devoted our show this week to the holiday of Sukkot, discussing the question of how to celebrate in the wake of the war, as well as the symbolism of the sukkah and the 4 species [lulav, etrog, myrtle, and willow]. We will return to the weekly parashah next week, when the annual cycle begins with the opening parashah of B’reshit, the Book of Genesis. We continue to be mindful of the hostages, may they be speedily returned to their families, and the soldiers serving in the Israel Defense Force, may they be removed from harm’s way. May the sukkat shalom, the Tabernacle of Peace, descend upon us. Chag Same’ach and Shabbat Shalom.