I often delight in hugging my children. These are special moments where we bond in an embrace of security and comfort.
Our daughter Keren sometimes runs into my arms when she is being “attacked” by her siblings. This refuge of love and support is a natural thing. Moreover, this requirement is not confined to children alone; adults, too, need to be heard and supported. We, too, need someone to be there for us.
Our rabbis teach that we have Someone Who is constantly tending to us. Our Father in heaven is here for us every moment.
Our Torah tells us that God protected us Jews when we left Egypt. In a famous passage, the Talmud (Sukkah 11a) cites a disagreement between Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Eliezer, the former saying God protected us by building sukkot and the latter saying God protected us by providing the Clouds of Glory for our journey. Whatever opinion we prefer, God’s protection of us is beyond question.
The word sukkah comes from the word lehistocheach, which means to be covered, to be protected. The Kabbalists teach that even though the sukkah is built outside the warmth and comfort of our regular house, there is a Divine light surrounding our shelter. We see that God is close—always.
Historically, this concept is relevant to Jews. Even in the darkest moments of humanity, when things appear so foreboding and uncertain, there is light at the end of the tunnel—and, often, closer.
We live in a very challenging world. The economy is in the doldrums, where life is expensive and it is hard to earn a livelihood. Turmoil seems ubiquitous, with dictators threatening the civilized world. Too often, despair would seem to trump hope.
As Jews, we must believe, always, that there is hope, and the holiday of Sukkot reminds us of this. For we are the children of God, each one of us “wrapped” in God’s warm embrace. After all, He is our refuge of love, hope and protection in good times and bad times.
Sometimes we come to understand subsequently why we have challenges. I remember when I was seeking to get married. It was a difficult time—I had just lost my father, and it seemed as if there was no one out there who was quite right for me.
I remember a conversation I had with my rabbi at the time, when he reassured me that it would happen and exhorted me to keep on praying to God and to have faith. Later, I understood, through prayer and perseverance, why I had to go through this rough time.
At last, I met my wife, the greatest blessing in my life.
Our Sages say that on Yom Kippur we become as close to God as angels when we approach this day with the proper posture.
As we near Sukkot, let us strive to understand through prayer and mitzvot that, despite the transiency and hurdles of life, God is watching over us, has bequeathed to each a unique mission and has abounding love for us all.
By Rabbi Ilan Acoca
Rabbi Ilan Acoca currently serves as rabbi of Sephardic Congregation of Fort Lee and rabbi in residence of Yeshivat Ben Porat Yosef in Paramus. He was the spiritual leader of Sephardic Congregation Beth Hamidrash, Vancouver, BC, Canada, from 1999 to 2016.
