“Our” is a powerful word. It signifies a joyful extended family effort resulting in a beautiful hand-crafted Sukkah that we all can spend time in together.
A lot of labor, love, tree trunks, and twine went into its building, much of the design and preps done long before I arrived in STL. Some serious roping, knotting, balancing, branch lopping and hurling, beer-drinking, music, laughing, and colorful harvest décor completed the picture.
Then we all flopped down in the sukkah to listen to some words of wisdom, say the brachot over the privilege of celebrating this festival together, drink the wine, and eat a meal (Chinese delivery in this case) under the stars and full moon.
I confess I laughed or “snored” through some of the “raging sages” part (I blame the sacred syrup), but Avdi knows no disrespect was intended.
A sukkah reminds us that all life is ephemeral and impermanent, just a temporary shelter to sojourn in while we were strangers in a strange land, going through all the difficult changes needed to go from a slave mentality to freedom. By definition the sukkah will come down at the end of the festival, and we’ll start over again next year, as it should be. For now, it’s there to welcome family, friends, and newcomers, and share our good fortune and abundance.
I am thankful to finally be a part of Sukkot with my chosen people. Now it can once again be my favorite holiday, too.