Sukkot in the sukkah

On Tuesday evening I had the immense pleasure of attending my very first Sukkot, which is the Jewish holiday of the Feast of Tabernacles. This 7-day holiday celebrates the harvest season as well as God’s protection of the Israelites during their 40 day sojourn in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. Part of Sukkot is building a temporary outdoor shelter called a sukkah, which reminds participants of the fragile dwellings used by their ancestors as they traveled. 

Under the shelter of the sukkah erected at the Congregation of Reformed Judaism, our gracious host, Rabbi Rachael Jackson, explained to us that the sukkah can be built from any material as long as you can see the stars from within. And sure enough, when we looked above through the palm frond roof of the sukkah, I was mindful of our ancestors who once navigated the wilderness by the stars, seeking the promised land. 

Rabbi Jackson taught us that during Sukkot, families will eat, pray, and sometimes sleep in their sukkah. One of the prayers of Sukkot involves the waving of the lulav and etrog (palm, Myrtle, willow, and citron), which symbolizes unity among all people and connection to the earth. This mitzvah, or blessing, is practiced each day of Sukkot, and we were honored to take part in this blessing on Tuesday. 

Rabbi Jackson explained that a large part of Sukkot is the practice of hospitality. When Jews build their sukkah it is with the intention of hosting others within its shelter. So, in the spirit of hospitality and unity, she gathered a small group of interfaith leaders in Central Florida to share dinner, blessings, and fellowship with one another, and it was an absolutely beautiful night. 

Often in our world today we are so focused on our differences that we miss the blessing of unity and sharing. Learning about the holidays and festivals that are important to our Jewish siblings helps us better understand and honor our history as Christians. These holidays and traditions are ones that Jesus’ family would have practiced; and being a carpenter family, I’m sure Jesus’ sukkah was pretty amazing. There is much to learn from Sukkot, and although we do not have a similar holiday in the Christian faith, we are called to be radically hospitable and strive to be peacemakers on the path to unity. May we continue to accept invitations into spaces we have not journeyed and invite into our spaces those with whom we have not journeyed. It is only in these shared experiences that we will find the unity that lays the foundation for shalom--the peace and wholeness God promises. ​