Holding onto the Spirit of Sukkot

Shabbat Shalom!

I love Sukkot.

For a week, we leave the permanence of our homes and gather in something intentionally temporary. We sit beneath a roof open to the sky. We share meals. We welcome family and friends. And we are reminded that connection to our Jewish community doesn’t always happen in grand moments. Sometimes it happens simply because we make the decision to show up and be with one another.

And then, almost as quickly as it arrives, Sukkot is over. We take down our sukkahs. The tables and chairs go back inside. But I hope we don’t let the feeling of the holiday disappear just as quickly, because what Sukkot asks of us shouldn’t end when the holiday does.

We should hold on to the idea that community is built through presence. That we should create connections by opening our doors, making room for one another, and being together. And this time of year gives us countless ways to keep doing exactly that: inviting a neighbor over, exploring an event with friends, checking on someone we haven’t seen in a while, or simply showing up because we know it matters.

On October 18, we’ll have another opportunity to carry that spirit forward at Sababa in downtown Clayton. Thousands of people will come together for music, food, art, and experiences rooted in Jewish culture. We’ll see longtime friends, meet new ones, and welcome people from across St. Louis to experience the energy, creativity, and joy of Jewish life.

That is what Sababa is really about. Yes, it is a festival. And yes, it will be really fun. But more importantly, it is a chance to step out of our individual routines and experience what a vibrant community truly looks like–to be together, to celebrate who we are as Jews, and to invite others to celebrate with us.

As we move into this beautiful season of cooler temperatures and changing leaves, I hope we carry a little bit of Sukkot with us. Invite someone in. Accept an invitation. Show up at synagogue. Come to a community gathering. Sit around the table for a little longer. Bring your family and friends to Sababa.

Because community isn’t something that simply exists. It is something we create together, every time we choose to be present with one another.

See you at Sababa on October 18!