Greetings from the Head of School - 10/11/19

In fact they do not even end with Shmini Atseret; rather our plans unfold throughout the year. It will only be when we look back, G-d Willing, next Rosh Hashana, will we be able to know if we were successful in our Tefillot.

Wouldn’t it be great, though, if instead of every other day being erev yom tov, we were able to spread out this holiness of the holidays (holy days) throughout the year. Why does Sukkot have to come right after Yom Kippur? Why not in (mar) Cheshvan, when there are no other holidays? Indeed, not only are they close to each other on the calendar, a deeper connection between them is suggested by the minhag that one should perform some part of Sukkah-building on Motzai Yom Kippur / the night when Yom Kippur ends. Why?

R’ Moshe Eisemann shlita (former Mashgiach Ruchani of Ner Israel in Baltimore, Maryland) explains: Our Sages refer to Yom Kippur as a day of salvation or liberation. A gift such as liberation brings with it responsibility, and it must be cherished and nurtured. It also must be protected. Thus, it is no coincidence that the first stop that Bnei Yisrael made after their liberation at the Exodus was at a place called “Sukkot.” Thereafter, they were protected by the Clouds of Glory, which our Sukkot commemorate. For the same reason, every night in Ma’ariv, we recite the blessing, “Ga’al Yisrael” / “The One who redeemed Yisrael,” and then we pray, “And spread over us the Sukkah of Your peace.” And, after Yom Kippur, we hurry into our Sukkot.

R’ Eisemann continues: The Sukkah extends our Yom Kippur experience. On Yom Kippur, the Shechinah was with us. At the conclusion of that holiday, the Shechinah departs, so we build a Sukkah and invite it back. The Sukkah protects what we accomplished on Yom Kippur. How so? By placing the imprint of sanctity on everything we do in ordinary life. We eat in the Sukkah, drink in the Sukkah, sleep in the Sukkah, relax in the Sukkah, etc. Everything is sanctified.

Building on R’ Eisemann’s thoughts we can and we should be extending the holiness of the month of Tishrei throughout the year. All of our undertakings, all of our decisions, all of our actions, mundane or otherwise, should be infused with a level of kedusha. After all we are an “am segula” - the chosen nation. The eyes of the world are always upon us. Our actions, be they good or not so good, are a reflection on all of Klal Yisrael.

Erev Yom Kippur I read articles about heinous crimes committed by outwardly looking pious Jews (whatever the accoutrements are of a “frum” Jew). After my initial reaction of revulsion, I had a deep feeling that I do not want to be associated with “those people”. I do not want anyone who is looking at me to think - oh, she wears ____ ( fill in the blank) so she must be _______ ( again, fill in the blank). But Yom Kippur has given me time to reassess my feelings. Listen Up, Ha’azinu - if people are going to be watching me because I am readily identifiable as an observant Jew, then my tafkid (role in life) is to change the way people see religious Jews. I must say thank you to the security guard or the cashier, I must be courteous on the road, I must smile, I must be charitable. It is only by infusing the holiness of Yom Kippur throughout the year that we can change the world’s perception. Sukkot is a booster shot to keep our intentions energized. Sukkot is the reminder that in our everyday activities there is the kedusha of Yom Kippur. All of our days are Yamim Noraim. (Days of Awe) so let’s make them all meaningful ones.

Have a Shabbat Shalom and a Chag Sameach!

Rochelle Brand, Ed.D