One of my favorite holidays is that of Sukkot. I guess that my love of Sukkot comes from the many happy memories I have of the wonderful celebration of Sukkot and the beautiful sukkah that my childhood synagogue, Temple B’nai Israel in New Britain, Connecticut, would build each year. I can remember being so happy as I would visit the sukkah with my family and with my Religious School classmates. For me it was a magical moment. What could be more beautiful than the abundance of fruits and vegetables that adorned the walls and hung from the sukkah’s roof. And what I especially remember is the incredible abundance of grapes, which hung from the sukkah’s roof. If I think about it, I can almost remember their delicious aroma. It was a glorious time.

I recently read a more unusual recollection of Sukkot by Rabbi Toba August. He wrote that he could never forget his first Sukkot as an ordained Rabbi in Fort Meyers, Florida where he was not only adjusting to his new synagogue, but also to a new environment. After the Sukkot services, he assumed he and his congregants would go outside to do Kiddush in their sukkah. He remembers that his congregants appeared surprised. Not understanding their reluctance he proceeded immediately to their tiny sukkah that was built on the synagogue’s front lawn; however, no one followed him as he walked inside, and stood under the roof of tropical palm fronds. Before he could pour the wine, he felt his feet and ankles violently burning and stinging. Looking down he saw that his legs were covered with fire ants. Being new to Florida, this Kiddush in the sukkah was his first encounter with these creatures, which bit and stung and caused his feet to swell.

Later, as his new and concerned congregants were putting ice on his swollen feet, they explained that their sukkah was just “symbolic” and no one ever celebrated inside because of the fire ants. The next year, his synagogue members erected a bigger sukkah, this time on the ant-free asphalt of their parking lot, far away from any grass.

While perhaps nothing quite as dramatic took place at our sukkah, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Men’s Club who did a wonderful job building our sukkah, Sisterhood, Judi Tavill, Leslie Hecht and the children of Congregation B’nai Israel who did a beautiful job decorating our sukkah and all who provided the many wonderful opportunities for our students to build on their childhood memories. Our Torah tells us twice to rejoice in the holiday of Sukkot: “V’Samachta B’Hagechah-V’hayeta Ach Sameach.” Sukkot is the time for us to be happy and the opportunity is there. Let us all merit many delicious meals, and times to study and sing in our sukkah, as we did this past year and in the coming years.

B’shalom,

Helene Matorin

Director of Education

Rosh Hashanah in the Classroom

Sisterhood delivered apples and honey to the religious school students on Sunday, September 28, to celebrate Rosh Hashanah in the Classroom. We wish to thank the following members for making this a success:

Ariel Balaban, Nona Balaban, Bonnie Cooper,

Robin Goldberg, Erika Postelnek, Nancy Postelnek,

Darlene Schild, Gayle Stamer, Melinda Wagner,

Nora Warshauer

We need volunteers to help with Chanukah in the Classroom, which will take place on December 21. If you can help, please contact Jennifer Cohn