Sheltering the Vulnerable
As we step into the month of October, our tradition turns us toward Sukkot—the festival of booths. For a week, we dwell in fragile huts, open to the wind, covered only by branches, reminded of how exposed our ancestors were as they journeyed through the wilderness. The Sukkah is intentionally temporary, vulnerable, and incomplete. It is beautiful in its simplicity, but it also calls us to
remember those whose homes and lives are always fragile.
The mitzvah of ushpizin—welcoming guests into our Sukkah—reminds us that holiness is found not only in prayer or ritual, but in opening our doors to others. To invite someone in is to see their humanity. To share our table is to affirm their dignity. Sukkot challenges us to notice the strangers, the hungry, the unhoused, the displaced, and the lonely—and to act on their behalf.
As is our tradition, we will be hosting three community lunches, where everyone is welcome. Just as the Sukkah has no locked door, our table will have no barrier to entry. These gatherings will be a chance to sit side by side, to celebrate together, and to live out Sukkot’s reminder that true joy is found in community and in caring for one another.
As we sit beneath the leafy roof of our Sukkah and around our shared tables, may we hold two truths: gratitude for the abundance we enjoy, and responsibility toward those who do not share in it. The holiday insists that the measure of our community’s strength is how we care for its most vulnerable members.
This Sukkot, may our temporary shelters inspire us to build lasting ones. May our joy in the harvest move us to share with those in need. And may our lunches together remind us that when we gather, welcome, and care, God’s presence dwells among us.
Chag Sameach.
