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The Beth Emeth Youth to Young Family Email

Hey Everyone,

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur 5781 are behind us and now we get straight into Sukkot! Sukkot is Zman Simchateinu - it is specifically called "the time of our joy". Sukkot is the time where we reflect on all the preparation, prayer, and hard work that we experience as part of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and do our best to live up to our own expectations, at least for a week. We try to set ourselves up for the sweet year ahead through the immersive experience of hanging out, eating, and essentially living in our sukkot. The temporary physical structure of the sukkah is the ideal place to focus on our personal growth.

Normally, there are at least three staple programs over Sukkot, which can't happen this year:
1. The annual Sukkah Hop
2. Pizza (and Karaoke) in the Hut
3. Soup and Cider in the Sukkah

While we had explored making these virtual events, based on the feelers we put out, there wasn't a lot of interest. If you ARE interested, please let me know. If I hear back from you, I'm more than happy to make it all happen.

In the meantime, if you don't have a Sukkah of your own, please reach out to the shul office to book a time for your family to utilize the shul's Sukkah. 

Alternatively, reach out to me and Shira Rachel and we'd love to host you in our Sukkah.

We'd love to see you in shul over Sukkot. Please go the Beth Emeth website to register to join us for morning and evening services.

YOU CAN ALSO CHECK OUT THE BETH EMETH LIVESTREAM AND JOIN US VIRTUALLY FOR SERVICES OVER THE HOLIDAY @ https://www.beby.org/stream-services.html

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameiach!
 
For more information about what is happening check out www.beby.org.

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                                                              *picture from Sukkot 5779
SHABBAT SHALOM and CHAG SAMEI'ACH!!!

Rabbi David,
Director of Ritual and NEXTgen Community
rabbidavid@beby.org

TORAH TALK FOR THE TABLE
with Rabbi David

Sukkot

Over the holiday of Sukkot, we "take" the Arba Minim - the four species. Our Rabbis teach that each corresponds to a different kind of Jew with a different level of observance and committment to Judaism.

The Etrog - has both taste and smell. It represents a Jew who is both observant and committed to Judaism.

The Lulav - from a date palm, has taste (like a date) but not smell. It represents a Jew who is committed to their Judaism though they are not fully observant.

The Hadassim - myrtle branches have smell but not taste. They represent a Jew who is observant of Jewish practices but isn't entirely committed.

The Aravot - willow branches have neither taste nor smell. They represent a Jew who is neither committed to Judaism nor observant of mitzvot.

The most powerful part of the Mitzvah of Arbah Minim is that all four species need to be held TOGETHER. It doesn't matter where you are on the spectrum of Jewish observance and/or committment. The most important lesson is that no matter what, regardless of our similarities and our differences, we always have to stick together as the nation of Israel.
 
Discussion Questions

1. Which of the four species best represents you?
2. How do you feel when someone disagrees with you?
3. Why do you think it is so important for us to stick together, even though we are different?