Tag Archives: sukot

Hoshana Raba. Shmini Atzeret. What’s that, you ask?

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Tomorrow night begins the 7th day of Sukot- and it has a special name-  Hoshana Raba.  It’s kind of like a mini-Yom Kipur.  During the morning  services, we destroy the willow branches that are part of the Lulav and Etrog (see the picture below) we’ve employed during this seven day festival.  We either do this because it was part of the rain-bringing rituals that existed centuries ago- or to remind us of repentance.  (The origin of the practice is simply not clear to us today.)  This day marks the period of atonement and introspection that we began some 50 days ago when the new moon (month) of Elul rolled around.

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40 hours in synagogue over 10 days- and now the next 8 (or 9 day) holiday starts Sunday night. Happy Sukot!

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Whether we truly believe that our sukot (the plural of suka) are to remind us that we traveled for 40 years in the desert- or we needed to preempt the pagan harvest festival that occurred this time of year three millennia ago-  is truly immaterial to our observance of this holiday.  Because we have found real meaning in the suka- to remind us that our lives are transient, our lives are fragile, and our lives require our efforts along with Hashem’s help.

Continue reading 40 hours in synagogue over 10 days- and now the next 8 (or 9 day) holiday starts Sunday night. Happy Sukot!

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Is it really Sukot?

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Whether we truly believe that our sukot (the plural of suka) are to remind us that we traveled for 40 years in the desert- or we needed to preempt the pagan harvest festival that occurred this time of year three millennia ago-  is truly immaterial.  Because we Jewish folk have found meaning in the suka- to remind us that our lives are transient, our lives are fragile, and our lives require our efforts along with Hashem’s help.

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More holidays? Yes- this one has 9 more days.

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Whether we truly believe that our sukot (the plural of suka) are to remind us that we traveled for 40 years in the desert- or we needed to preempt the pagan harvest festival that occurred this time of year three millennia ago-  is truly immaterial.  Because we have found our own meaning in the suka- to remind us that our lives are transient, our lives are fragile, and our lives require our efforts along with Hashem’s help.

Continue reading More holidays? Yes- this one has 9 more days.

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Can we? Should we?

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First, one of the major change dates in my life.

It was erev Shabat.  1 week to Thanksgiving.  3 weeks to Chanuka.  Our school day was winding down.  (Fridays were short school days, so that those of us – like me- who needed an hours trip or more to get home- would be ready for Shabat that started around 5 PM.)

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Helping Hand

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I thought I was going to hear an inspiring story right before the Ne’ila service of Yom Kipur. (Ne’ila is an additional service- the only time one ever has such a service is during Yom Kipur. It is when many of us take off our shoes (a sign of penitence; and ) during this prayer service for which we all stand. Many folks envision this service as the “closing of the gates”, the time on the most holy day of the year when we seek forgiveness for our failings and assistance for the rest of our lives, when the “judgement time” is nigh.)

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