God

We have to gather our resolve and “come back” to the spirit that enabled the miracle of our independence and led to our victory in a dozen previous wars.

As we pour our ingenuity into machines and endow them with nearly every human trait, we are reminded of the one gift we can never bestow – our immortal soul.

As we move away from Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, mostly what I am feeling now is… fascination. I am mesmerized by the ability we humans have of juggling.

For the joy of Sukkot is not a sign of naivete; it is a declaration that Israel’s story will end not in fear but ultimately in redemption.

The structures may be temporary, but creating them with attention to these minute details allows God’s presence to dwell among us.

The sukkah reminds us that we are not so powerful. We must be humble and remember that everything we eat, everything we own, and our military successes all depend on God.

We remember on Sukkot that despite our considerable human ingenuity and skill, we remain dependent on God – not only for the technology itself but for help when our knowledge and tools fall short.

Prayer may be an essential part of Jewish practice, but it is precisely because of its regularity that its inner essence is often passed over.

I struggle to find my place, hiding thoughts inside my head that cannot be revealed, impatient with a mind-numbing experience, reciting prayers that seem detached.

Whoever you are, whatever your year has been, the community proclaims: Anu matirin lehitpallel im ha-avaryanim. Tonight, we permit ourselves to pray together.