Torah Talk for Shabbat Sukkot – 2025 – Close in Crisis, Close in Joy

Shalom WJC Family,

This past Wednesday night, as the Yom Tov part of Sukkot was ending and the intermediate days beginning, I was teaching about the Shechehiyanu prayer, the prayer made to thank God for allowing us to reach a special moment. We often say the prayer when we get to do a mitzvah, such as lighting Chanukah candles. But at what point in the process of a special moment should we say it? For example, do we say the blessing when we build a sukkah or only when we complete the mitzvah by sitting and eating in it? By the end of the evening service, a few minutes later, I was asking myself that question again…at what point should we say the Shechehyanu prayer about the potential of a Ceasefire deal that was being reported?

While I am leery of being too optimistic with such a difficult and complex situation, we can certainly be hopeful. As I write this message, the Israeli cabinet has voted for the Ceasefire, and it officially went into effect; all living Israeli hostages and the remains of those who perished and were still held are supposed to be returned by the beginning of next week. I don’t know if we can say the blessing Shechehiyanu before the hostages actually come home, but my prayers are more fervently filled with hope than they have been in a long time. This Shabbat, I will be talking about the difference between ‘optimism’ and ‘hope’ and why ‘hope’ is such a Jewish emotion.

In the meantime, things are happening so fast that it is hard to keep up. That’s why I am so glad Congressman George Latimer will be with us on Sunday morning for brunch starting at 10:30. He will not only reflect on his recent trip to Israel, as planned, he also intends to share the latest of what he is hearing about the deal on the Hill and in Washington DC.

Before that we have a beautiful Shabbat planned with Friday night dinner in the Sukkah, Rhythm & Ruach Friday night, and a Sukkot-Sing-Along in the Sukkah to follow. Then on Saturday morning our Rabbinic Intern Jacob Lipkin will be back with the second installment of Shabbat Morning 101. Everyone seemed to love his first session. We hope you’ll join him this Saturday morning at 10am in the library.

See you in shul,

RJA