A Message from Rabbi Yitzhak

(October/November 2008)

As news of the collapse of respected Wall Street institutions sent shock waves through global markets and caused countless worried minds, I along with colleagues everywhere, puzzled over what could be said of this during the impending Days of Awe. As I write this newsletter article, powerful and dismaying statements fill the airwaves, scroll across computer screens and bluntly declare alarm in front-page headlines. One presidential candidate responded to the situation calling it the most serious financial crisis since the Great Depression. Just how catastrophic is this turmoil in the financial institutions that stabilize much of our society? What can be said at a time when so much is still unknown and yet a pervasive sense of insecurity has shaken the confidence of so many? What spiritual resources do we have to help us navigate the stormy winds of uncertainty that have forcefully battered our sense of security?

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The Lesson of the Sukkah

What comes to my mind at this time of uncertainty is the comforting symbol of the humble sukkah we will build in the aftermath of the Days of Awe. A flimsy little hut with greenery as its roof and simple decorations on its walls that make this humble structure a place of beauty and comfort, celebration and welcome.

The message of Sukkot is after all, a reminder not to place our trust in the seemingly sturdy homes we build for ourselves or in the seemingly solid institutions of society, rather our deepest sense of security must come from a place in the heart that is steadfast even when the winds blow strong and much of what we consider unshakable does in fact totter.

Sukkot is in many ways an exercise in regaining focus on our spiritual lives. When the material dimension becomes less certain, when we experience its ephemeral nature, we might get swept up in frenzied anxiety or we might turn inward to find at our core a thread of trust in the simple goodness of life that we so often cover in layer after layer of material false security.

As we celebrate Sukkot this year, let us remember that our truest security is found in a simple and calm place within the heart. A place of trust where we embrace the goodness of life, the treasures of the plants that provide us food, the stars that light the evening sky as we gaze through leafy coverings, and the friendship shared in the sweetened air of sacred intention. Sukkot reminds us to cultivate a place in the heart for simple, enduring faith in the goodness of life even as its storms and challenges may seem bewildering. This is the lesson of Sukkot. Let’s learn it well and celebrate with joy.

Shana Tova V’hag Sameach,
Rabbi Yitzhak