Prayer is the way we speak to G-d.
Sometimes we pray alone.
Sometimes we pray with other people.
Sometimes we pray out loud.
Sometimes we pray silently.
Sometimes we pray with our words.
Sometimes we pray with our actions.
Sometimes we say our prayers.
Sometimes we sing them.
Sometimes we pray in English
Sometimes we pray in Hebrew.
How ever we pray, G-d, we pray You will always hear us.
Our G-d and G-d of our ancestors, remind us to extend our family to the places where individuals dwell together and alone, to make our passage in the Book of Life a meaningful one through the kinship of all these dear friends and family, colleagues, aunts, uncles and all those who dwell with us today.
We are a chosen people whose ancestors went forth to a distant land. Though scattered, we commit to being a chosen people that readily welcomes all others into our midst.
It is written that “all Israel is responsible for one another” and it is true that we are as responsible for everyone else. So we say: “kol yisrael arevim ze la’zeh…v’kol ha’olam”
Sukkot reminds us that we have food on our tables because of the hard work of many people, and because of G-d’s generosity. It is a mitzvah to make sure other people have food on their tables, too. On Sukkot, we eat, study, and even sleep in the sukkah, we invite guests to share our sukkah, and we thank G-d for the rain and the gift of the harvest.
Let’s remember the commandments of this festival:
- Construction and dwelling in the Sukkah
- Netilat Lulav
- Stay in joy
- Ushpizin
Chag Sameach!
