Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

When I was a young boy, right after we broke the Fast at home, my father, the chairman of the shul's house committee, brought me and my brother back to shul to help build the synagogue's Sukkah with a few other volunteers. At a young age, I was introduced to the notion that as we complete Yom Kippur on a clean slate, we must begin observing Mitzvot right away.

Sukkot provides several Mitzvot by which one can begin the new year on the right foot. These include the taking of the four species, the dwelling in the Sukkah, and the command to rejoice during the Festival itself.

On Friday, the day following Yom Kippur, I read a number of entries from friends on Facebook who all made reference to the notion that ideal Jewish practice and behavior take place not from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur, a mere ten days, but rather from Yom Kippur to Rosh Hashanah, a virtual year in its entirety. 

I hope and pray that the preceding Ten Days of Repentance were not an exercise for only a week and a half, but rather, an inspiration for how we should conduct ourselves the entire year. Getting ready for Sukkot is a great step in that direction.

Chag Sameach,

Rabbi Howard Morrison