Rabbi Howard Morrison

There are many themes associated with Sukkot. Commonly known are the Mitzvot regarding the Sukkah, the four species, and a season of rejoicing.

One of the lesser-known themes is the fact that each day during Sukkot we read a small section from the book of B'Midbar-Parshat Pinchas. In ancient Temple based times, the Israelites brought 70 sacrifices over the seven days of Sukkot, bringing one less on each successive day. Thus, 13 were brought on day 1; 12 were brought on day 2, etc.

In the ancient world, there was a notion that there were 70 nations in the world other than Israel. Whereas Yom Kippur emphasized personal prayers of repentance, and whereas Shemini Atzeret will focus on the special bond between God and the Jewish people, Sukkot is the holiday of the Jewish people expressing concern for the nations of the world. It is no accident that when countries have coped with natural and health disasters that Israel is among the first nations to send in first responders and experts.

It is ironic and even tragic that when Israel is subjected to awful forms of hatred that almost none of the vast nations comes to Israel's side, especially over the last twelve months. While we Jews may be disappointed at the lack of moral clarity from others, we Jews must never lose our own sense of moral clarity. We must continue to express a universal concern even when others do not.

I wish you all Chag Sameach,

Rabbi Howard Morrison