Sukkot is a very inspiring holiday. By reminding us of the fragility of what we take for granted, it humbles us and makes us aware of our blessings. While the weather has notably cooled down and is wet, I am grateful I have a warm and comfortable house.
At the same time I find it frustrating not to have a sukkah in the garden and wish I were more adventurous and would make up my mind to either buy one or build it myself. It is also frustrating to have to work and find a way of doing so while celebrating the holiday.
On the bright side, we are having a community dinner tomorrow and will eat in a large sukkah that a family donated a few years ago when they moved to Paris. I have made two honey cakes and hope that the weather will be decent.
A few days ago I received Hillel: If Not Now, When? by Rabbi Telushkin and have started to read it. I hope to find the time to write a review soon. I also plan to resume the parshah posts. I will however lack time this week since I have a busy week ahead – shopping on Tuesday after work and a meeting on Wednesday – and will only repost previous posts but I ambition to do better next week.
Enjoy the community dinner. I’m sure your honey cakes are delicious.
Take care, happy sukkot.
L’Shana Haba’a B’yerushalayim
I had made an extra (small) cake which we tasted last night and it was very nice. It is a good recipe with extra moistness thanks to the applesauce.
I do hope some day you will have your own sukkah. The small ones made of canvas don’t seem to difficult to put up.
Enjoy the honey cakes and the community dinner.
You are right; a canvas sukkah would probably be best.
I know what you mean about having to work and trying to mix in that with the meaning of Sukkot – it can be hard!
I too experienced our community Sukkah last night at our rabbi’s house – we all managed to fit in (just) and all took turns in shaking the lulav as well – it was a lovely, communal experience.
I had read your comment on FB and hoped you wouldn’t get all the rain we had yesterday. It seems you didn’t; I am glad.
Thank you! No, we managed to escape the rain by the skin of our teeth – it came much later in the evening when we had decided to go inside, luckily. I’m sorry you had it though.
chag sameach lady! i’m sending you peaceful, cozy RELAXING thoughts for what sounds like a busy week ahead! and seriously, yum! more honey cake!
Thank you Galit. But not too much cake!
Have a nice time at the community dinner. I hope the weather cooperates!
It cooperated! Thank you.
I hope you’re enjoying the holiday despite the challenges – there always seem to be challenges, eh?
Hope the weather holds so you can enjoy at least one meal in a sukkah!
Thanks so much for linking to my honey cake recipe! Chag Sameach!
It is a lovely recipe and it was appreciated.
Rachel: we had the rain yesterday but the shul evening was tonight; cold but dry!
Pingback: Our Sukkah and Sukkot Links » Here in HP, Highland Park, New Jersey blog
When I was a kid in a Conservative Hebrew School and non-observant home, I remember decorating or seeing a succah before the holiday but never eating in it. Even vaguer, a memory of visiting the rabbi’s home with my aunt and seeing a succah.
Of course, now we have our own, almost every year since we’ve been married.