CBI Blogs

It was wonderful to see so many of you these past couple of weeks as we celebrated Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in our own beautiful space. The days were truly filled with awe, not just because of the individual introspection and reflection we took upon ourselves, but because of the joy we felt in coming together as a community. During Yom Kippur, I was particularly awed by the lovely way we worked together to prepare our transitional sanctuary for the break fast, with special gratitude to the CBI Sisterhood for working tirelessly to cook and organize such a delicious meal.

And now that both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are in our rearview mirrors (if only for a little while), it’s time to turn our attention to Sukkot! I sometimes feel like Sukkot is the “forgotten holiday” because it begins so soon after Yom Kippur. But it is filled with such special and joyful rituals, so it is surely something to experience.

What makes Sukkot so special? Well, to start, check out this article to learn more about the history and some of the traditions surrounding Sukkot. For me personally, Sukkot reminds me of the years my family built a Sukkah in our backyard. Every year, we would put up a semi-stable, 4-walled Sukkah on our back porch. We decorated our Sukkah with a giant piece of fabric wrapped around three of the walls, fabric filled with colorful fruit made from felt. We hung apples, pomegranates, corn, gourds, and more, some real and some made from plastic. We lovingly placed pumpkins on the ground, hoping the squirrels wouldn’t eat them.

During dinner, we would sit outside in our Sukkah, eating together as a family, all while swatting at mosquitoes and other bugs. One night, we even tried to sleep outside in our Sukkah! We gathered up our sleeping bags, put down a tarp, lasted for all of 30 minutes before the Texas heat was too much and the mosquitoes still would not leave us alone.

Sukkot reminds me of the joy in coming together as family to do something different, to try something new. How often do you get to eat outside in a temporary hut created just for this special holiday? How often do you sit surrounded by fruit hanging from the ceiling? Do you find yourself waving a lulav and etrog at other times of the year? I assume the answer to those questions for most of you are “no.” So, why not give it a try this year?

If you are unable to build a Sukkah in your home, never fear! The CBI Sukkah is here for you. You are welcome to reserve a spot in our Sukkah, carefully constructed and built by our amazing Brotherhood. Click on this link to reserve your time today!

As the High Holy Days continue, I hope that you each find moments to try new things in the year to come. So, start with Sukkot! Join us for Sukkot services this Friday and Saturday. Come eat in the Sukkah. Wave your lulav and etrog. And, may this inspire you to do something new in the year to come.

Wishing you a Shana Tova, a sweet and joyful year ahead!