Sukkot

October 4, 2023

Sukkot, Science and Religion

My extended D'var Torah on this topic at Sinai and Synapses! Continue reading

Calendar, Environment, High Holidays, History, Holidays, Prayer, Ritual, Science, Spirituality, Sukkot, Yamim Noraim
September 29, 2023

Affordable Housing: A Sukkot Reflection and Charge

This is my D'var Torah for the first day of Sukkot 5784 and Shabbat, September 30, 2023. Sukkot is actually the third part of the High Holy Days. It’s not just Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Sukkot is the zany but nuanced third festival of our kickoff month of Tishrei. And Sukkot is specifically… Continue reading

Calendar, Current Affairs, Election, Environment, Equality, Ethics, Exodus, Food, High Holidays, Holidays, Housing, Justice, Leadership, Shabbat, Sukkot, Tikkun Olam, Torah, Tzedek, USA, Yamim Noraim
September 26, 2023

Sukkot, Water, and Oneness

From Yom Kippur, when we put aside our material existence by fasting and spending so many hours in prayer, we move within days to Sukkot. Sukkot is by contrast a very earthy, material holiday. There is the Sukkah booth itself and the plant material that makes up its roof. There are the Arba'ah Minim, the Four… Continue reading

Calendar, Environment, High Holidays, Holidays, Ritual, Sukkot, Yamim Noraim
January 13, 2021

Sukkat Shalom — What a Temporary Peace Is (And Is Not)

I am posting this just after seeing that the U.S. House has voted to impeach President Trump for his actions leading to the violence at the Capitol one week ago. This is from the D'var Torah I gave on the Shabbat of Shmini Atzeret, the end of the festival of Sukkot, Saturday, October 10, 2020.… Continue reading

Calendar, Current Affairs, Election, Ethics, Freedom, Holidays, Inclusion, Justice, Leadership, Middot, Peace, Sukkot, Tikkun Olam, Tzedek, USA
July 29, 2020

Pitchers and Catchers, Candles and Circles, Rivers and Apples: How Rituals Will Really Help Us Approach This New Year

This is almost too good to be true: the beginning of the month of Av in the Jewish calendar this year coincided with opening day for Major League Baseball. Usually around this time of year I show you this T-shirt based on an observation by Rabbi Morris Allen at my parents’ shul about the absolute… Continue reading

Calendar, Coronavirus, Current Affairs, Devarim, Elul, High Holidays, Holidays, Parashat Hashavua, Prayer, Ritual, Rosh Hashanah, Simchat Torah, Spirituality, Sukkot, Teshuvah, Torah, USA, Yamim Noraim, Yom Kippur
October 23, 2016

Proud to Be Jewish and Making a Difference in the World This Weekend

A quick check in before the last Tishrei holy days: I am incredibly proud of our congregation, Temple Beth Abraham in Nashua. Yesterday we hosted Imam Muhammad Musri from Orlando, who was visiting the nearby mosque in Lowell, for a talk on the basics of Islam. At least sixty congregants attended. People asked questions about… Continue reading

Community Relations, Current Affairs, Election, Holidays, Interfaith Dialogue, Islam, Israel, Leadership, Peace, Sukkot, Temple Beth Abraham, Terrorism, Tikkun Olam, Tzedek, USA
October 14, 2016

Yom Kippur Sermon and Sukkot

I've posted my Yom Kippur sermon, a reflection related to the election year and my previous post. Also I have some material on the site here related to Sukkot, the festival that begins Sunday night. Chag Sameach! Continue reading

Calendar, Community Relations, Current Affairs, Election, Freedom, Health Care, High Holidays, Holidays, Inclusion, Interfaith Dialogue, Islam, Justice, Leadership, Rabbi, Sukkot, Taking Sides, Temple Beth Abraham, Tikkun Olam, Torah, Yamim Noraim, Yom Kippur
October 11, 2011

Some Sukkot Thoughts

Last night at our shul's Ritual Committee meeting, Larry Rubin read from a terrific Dvar Torah he found by Rabbi Oren Hayon from Dallas. Here's the link to the whole thing. Here is the beginning just below. My own page on Sukkot is here. Chag Sameach! D'var Torah: Making Homelessness Our Home September 28, 2009… Continue reading

Holidays, Sukkot
September 21, 2010

Sukkot 5771

Go to Sukkot page Continue reading

Holidays, Sukkot
October 1, 2009

Sukkot, Water, and One-ness

From Yom Kippur, when we put aside our material existence by fasting and spending so many hours in prayer, we move to Sukkot. Sukkot is by contrast a very earthy, material holiday. The Sukkah booth itself, obviously, and the plant material that makes up its roof. The Arba'ah Minim, Four Species as well — the… Continue reading

Environment, Holidays, Science, Spirituality, Sukkot