A Time for Everything…
As Yom Kippur recedes, could Sukkot be far behind? This Fall Festival aligns season and spirit in inspiring and compelling ways. The transitions in flora and temperature find faithful expression in both the tenuousness of the fragile Sukkah structure and the uncertain tone of the Book of Ecclesiastes.
In many ways, this celebration is our iteration of Eastern philosophies that encourage us to rise above the comforts and securities of the material world, which can easily be taken from us. Rather, we must strive to put our trust in what comes from the divine: a commitment to ideals and values; an appreciation for friends, family, and community; and heightened awareness of and gratitude for the myriad blessings that surround us. Indeed, as the words of the text which were popularized by Pete Seeger and The Byrds remind us, there is a time and a purpose for everything under heaven. May we make the most of this time to find the best that is around us and in us.
Rabbi Daniel Weiner