Sukkot​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Harvest:​ ​Sustainability​ ​via​ ​the​ ​Calendar

Calendar​ ​-​ ​A​ ​Human-Divine​ ​Partnership

1. When​ ​does​ ​the​ ​Sefer​ ​HaChinuch​ ​say​ ​Passover​ ​and​ ​Sukkot​ ​should​ ​take​ ​place?​ ​(Based on​ ​verses​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Torah)

2. Why​ ​do​ ​you​ ​think​ ​God​ ​gave​ ​human​ ​beings​ ​a​ ​lead​ ​role​ ​in​ ​formulating​ ​the​ ​calendar?​ ​Why not​ ​dictate​ ​it​ ​from​ ​above?

3. What​ ​types​ ​of​ ​calendars​ ​do​ ​you​ ​have​ ​in​ ​your​ ​lives?​ ​How​ ​do​ ​you​ ​structure​ ​your​ ​days, seasons,​ ​years?​ ​How​ ​much​ ​influence​ ​do​ ​you​ ​have​ ​over​ ​them

There​ ​is​ ​a​ ​Time​ ​and​ ​Season​ ​for​ ​Everything​ ​-​ ​Mindfulness​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Natural​ ​Cycle

1. How​ ​do​ ​Sukkot’s​ ​agricultural​ ​roots​ ​differ​ ​from​ ​those​ ​of​ ​Pesach​ ​and​ ​Shavuot?

2. In​ ​what​ ​ways​ ​would​ ​this​ ​difference​ ​lead​ ​to​ ​a​ ​unique​ ​mindset​ ​or​ ​behavior​ ​on​ ​Sukkot?

3. Which​ ​generally​ ​speak​ ​more​ ​to​ ​you,​ ​the​ ​agricultural​ ​roots​ ​or​ ​the​ ​historical​ ​narratives?

Creating​ ​Relevance​ ​-​ ​Rituals​ ​in​ ​Nature​ ​(credit​ ​to​ ​JEWCology)

The​ ​​Lulav​​ ​is​ ​a​ ​collection​ ​of​ ​​Four​ ​Species​​ ​that​ ​the​ ​Torah​ ​(Leviticus​ ​23:40)​ ​commands​ ​Jews​ ​to take​ ​on​ ​Sukkot.​ ​The​ ​Four​ ​Species​ ​include​ ​a​ ​palm​ ​branch​ ​(​lulav​),

myrtle​ ​(​hadas​),​ ​willow​ ​(​arvei​ ​nachal​),​ ​and​ ​the​ ​citron​ ​(​etrog​).​ ​Each reminds​ ​us​ ​of​ ​water​ ​in​ ​some​ ​way.
“The​ ​date​ ​palm​ ​was​ ​the​ ​most​ ​water-loving​ ​plant​ ​of​ ​the​ ​desert;​ ​the myrtle​ ​needs​ ​the​ ​most​ ​water​ ​of​ ​the​ ​mountain​ ​plants;​ ​the​ ​​etrog​​ ​fruit among​ ​agricultural​ ​trees​ ​requires​ ​the​ ​most​ ​rain​ ​to​ ​grow;​ ​and​ ​the “willow​ ​of​ ​the​ ​streams”​ ​are​ ​synonymous​ ​with​ ​abundant​ ​water,​ ​often growing​ ​with​ ​their​ ​roots​ ​right​ ​in​ ​the​ ​streams.”​ ​(CanfeiNesharim.org)

The​ ​​Sukkah​​ ​is​ ​the​ ​booth​ ​or​ ​hut​ ​that​ ​represents​ ​the Clouds​ ​of​ ​Glory​ ​(or​ ​literal​ ​booths)​ ​that​ ​the​ ​Torah​ ​says protected​ ​the​ ​Israelites​ ​while​ ​wandering​ ​through​ ​the desert​ ​(Leviticus​ ​23:42-43).​ ​The​ ​Sukkah​ ​is​ ​also​ ​the structure​ ​that​ ​farmers​ ​would​ ​stay​ ​in​ ​during​ ​the​ ​harvest period​ ​to​ ​protect​ ​their​ ​crops.​ ​Traditionally,​ ​Jews​ ​eat (some​ ​even​ ​sleep)​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Sukkah​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​7-day holiday​ ​of​ ​Sukkot.​ ​Ushpizin​ ​-​ ​special​ ​guests​ ​-​ ​are​ ​invited to​ ​join​ ​the​ ​hosts​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Sukkah.​ ​Structurally,​ ​the​ ​Sukkah needs​ ​to​ ​have​ ​at​ ​least​ ​2​ ​walls​ ​(and​ ​then​ ​some)​ ​of​ ​an​ ​appropraite​ ​height,​ ​with​ ​a​ ​roof​ ​made​ ​of something​ ​that​ ​grows​ ​from​ ​the​ ​ground​ ​(e.g.,​ ​leaves,​ ​branches).​ ​Many​ ​people​ ​decorate​ ​their Sukkahs​ ​to​ ​create​ ​a​ ​festive,​ ​homey​ ​feel.​ ​The​ ​roof​ ​must​ ​be​ ​porous​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​allow​ ​one​ ​to​ ​see the​ ​stars,​ ​but​ ​thick​ ​enough​ ​so​ ​that​ ​there​ ​is​ ​more​ ​shade​ ​inside​ ​than​ ​sunlight. The​ ​material​ ​that​ ​makes​ ​the​ ​roof​ ​(​schach​)​ ​may​ ​not​ ​be​ ​connected​ ​to​ ​the​ ​ground​ ​nor​ ​may it​ ​be​ ​in​ ​the​ ​process​ ​of​ ​being​ ​manufactured​ ​into​ ​a​ ​human​ ​artifact;​ ​it​ ​must​ ​be​ ​in​ ​a​ ​liminal​ ​state.​ ​We must​ ​learn​ ​to​ ​live​ ​in​ ​the​ ​“in-between,”​ ​finding​ ​shelter​ ​and​ ​comfort​ ​in​ ​vulnerability.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​one step​ ​to​ ​thanksgiving,​ ​acceptance,​ ​and​ ​joy.

On​ ​the​ ​day​ ​after​ ​Sukkot,​ ​called​ ​​Shemini​ ​Atzeret​,​ ​the Prayer​ ​for​ ​Rain​ ​(​Tefilat​ ​Geshem​)​​ ​is​ ​recited.​ ​It​ ​praises God​ ​as​ ​the​ ​deliverer​ ​of​ ​moisture​ ​to​ ​humankind​ ​and nature.​ ​The​ ​prayer​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Amidah/Standing​ ​Prayer​ ​for wind​ ​and​ ​rain​ ​is​ ​also​ ​introduced​ ​here​ ​and​ ​recited​ ​daily until​ ​Passover.​ ​The​ ​rain​ ​prayer​ ​suggests​ ​that​ ​rain​ ​can be​ ​delivered​ ​both​ ​for​ ​good​ ​and​ ​for​ ​bad​ ​(as​ ​we’ve​ ​seen all-too-recently).​ ​We​ ​hope​ ​that​ ​the​ ​rain​ ​will​ ​be​ ​for bracha​​ ​(blessing),​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​for​ ​​klala​​ ​(degradation​ ​or curse)

1. How​​ can ​​we ​​as ​​Jews and Moishe ​​House​​ bring​​ the​​ Jewish​​a gricultural​​ holidays​​ to​​ life​​ with our​ ​communities​ ​while​ ​living​ ​a​ ​largely​ ​urban​ ​life​ ​outside​ ​of​ ​Israel?

2. From​​ this ​​retreat,​​what​​ do​​ you ​​“gather”​​ sustainability ​​means?​​ What​​ initiatives, discussions,​ ​or​ ​programs​ ​can​ ​you​ ​organize​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​sustainability​ ​your​ ​houses​ ​and community?

3. How​​ can ​​we ​​be ​​more ​​creative​​ when ​​thinking ​​about​​ the​​ settings ​​of ​​our ​​Jewish,​​ social,​​ and cultural​ ​programming?​ ​What​ ​opportunities​ ​can​ ​we​ ​create​ ​to​ ​bond​ ​with​ ​our​ ​community outside​ ​the​ ​House​ ​walls?

4. In​ ​the​ ​spirit​ ​of​ ​welcoming​ ​holy​ ​guests​ ​(Ushpizin)​ ​and​ ​the​ ​lulav​ ​that​ ​represents​ ​every​ ​type of​ ​Jew,​ ​how​ ​can​ ​we​ ​be​ ​more​ ​accommodating,​ ​inclusive,​ ​and/or​ ​embracing​ ​of​ ​all​ ​current and​ ​not-yet​ ​community​ ​members,​ ​including​ ​those​ ​who​ ​feel​ ​unable​ ​to​ ​experience​ ​the​ ​“joy” of​ ​Sukkot?

Home​ ​is​ ​Where​ ​the​ ​Heart​ ​Is

God​ ​in​ ​Search​ ​of​ ​Man​​ ​(Abraham​ ​Joshua​ ​Heschel,​ ​1955)
As​ ​civilization​ ​advances,​ ​the​ ​sense​ ​of​ ​wonder​ ​declines.​ ​Such​ ​decline​ ​is​ ​an​ ​alarming​ ​symptom​ ​of our​ ​state​ ​of​ ​mind.​ ​Mankind​ ​will​ ​not​ ​perish​ ​for​ ​want​ ​of​ ​information;​ ​but​ ​only​ ​for​ ​want​ ​of appreciation.​ ​The​ ​beginning​ ​of​ ​our​ ​happiness​ ​lies​ ​in​ ​the​ ​understanding​ ​that​ ​life​ ​without​ ​wonder is​ ​not​ ​worth​ ​living.​ ​What​ ​we​ ​lack​ ​is​ ​not​ ​a​ ​will​ ​to​ ​believe​ ​but​ ​a​ ​will​ ​to​ ​wonder...
Radical​ ​amazement​ ​has​ ​a​ ​wider​ ​scope​ ​than​ ​any​ ​other​ ​act​ ​of​ ​man.​ ​While​ ​any​ ​act​ ​of​ ​perception or​ ​cognition​ ​has​ ​as​ ​its​ ​object​ ​a​ ​selected​ ​segment​ ​of​ ​reality,​ ​radical​ ​amazement​ ​refers​ ​to​ ​all​ ​of reality;​ ​not​ ​only​ ​to​ ​what​ ​we​ ​see,​ ​but​ ​also​ ​to​ ​the​ ​very​ ​act​ ​of​ ​seeing​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​to​ ​our​ ​own​ ​selves, to​ ​the​ ​selves​ ​that​ ​see​ ​and​ ​are​ ​amazed​ ​at​ ​their​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​see.

10​ ​Ways​ ​to​ ​Make​ ​Your​ ​Sukkot​ ​More​ ​Sustainable​ ​(credit​ ​to​ ​Hazon)

1. Host​ ​a​ ​Sustainable​ ​Sukkot​ ​meal:​ ​It​ ​is​ ​a​ ​mitzvah​ ​to​ ​eat​ ​in​ ​the​ ​sukkah​ ​on​ ​the​ ​first​ ​night​ ​of Sukkot.​ ​​ ​Host​ ​a​ ​sustainable​ ​Sukkot​ ​meal​ ​and​ ​invite​ ​your​ ​guests​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​dishes​ ​that include​ ​local,​ ​sustainable​ ​ingredients.

2. Compost:​ ​Use​ ​Sukkot​ ​as​ ​an​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​start​ ​composting.​ ​​ ​Start​ ​your​ ​parsley​ ​plants on​ ​​Tu​ ​B’shvat​​ ​with​ ​the​ ​soil​ ​you​ ​produce​ ​from​ ​your​ ​Sukkot​ ​scraps!

3. Reuse​ ​and​ ​Recycle:​ ​Commit​ ​to​ ​using​ ​only​ ​reusable​ ​or​ ​recyclable​ ​plates​ ​and​ ​cutlery​ ​in your​ ​Sukkah.​ ​In​ ​addition,​ ​recycle​ ​your​ ​lulav​ ​and​ ​etrog!​ ​​ ​Do​ ​a​ ​quick​ ​google​ ​search​ ​to​ ​find some​ ​creative​ ​ideas​ ​on​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​​reuse​ ​your​ ​lulav​ ​and​ ​etrog.

4. Meditate:​ ​Take​ ​the​ ​time​ ​to​ ​recite​ ​blessings​ ​before​ ​and​ ​after​ ​every​ ​meal​ ​during​ ​Sukkot and​ ​think​ ​about​ ​all​ ​of​ ​the​ ​hard​ ​work​ ​and​ ​resources​ ​that​ ​went​ ​into​ ​bringing​ ​the​ ​food​ ​to your​ ​table.

5. Green​ ​Sukkah​ ​Contest:​ ​Team​ ​up​ ​with​ ​other​ ​members​ ​of​ ​your​ ​congregation​ ​or​ ​Moishe neighbors​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​“who​ ​can​ ​build​ ​the​ ​greenest​ ​sukkah?”​ ​competition.​ ​How​ ​many recycled,​ ​creative​ ​items,​ ​can​ ​you​ ​and​ ​your​ ​team​ ​incorporate​ ​into​ ​your​ ​sukkah decorations?​ ​Google​ ​​Sukkah​ ​City​ ​Contest​​ ​based​ ​in​ ​Union​ ​Square,​ ​New​ ​York​ ​City​ ​for some​ ​cool​ ​ideas.

6. “Brand​ ​Out”:​ ​Invite​ ​your​ ​favorite​ ​farmer​ ​into​ ​your​ ​sukkah​ ​for​ ​a​ ​meal​ ​and​ ​ask​ ​him/her​ ​how the​ ​harvest​ ​went.​ ​​ ​Don’t​ ​know​ ​a​ ​farmer?​ ​​ ​Go​ ​to​ ​a​ ​local​ ​farmers​ ​market​ ​for​ ​some​ ​produce and​ ​congratulate​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​farmers​ ​there​ ​on​ ​a​ ​job​ ​well​ ​done.​ ​​ ​Even​ ​better,​ ​find​ ​out where​ ​a​ ​local​ ​farm​ ​is​ ​and​ ​go​ ​straight​ ​to​ ​the​ ​source​ ​for​ ​some​ ​seasonal​ ​goodies.

7. Celebrate​ ​the​ ​Harvest​ ​by​ ​Eating​ ​Local:​ ​Don’t​ ​want​ ​to​ ​cut​ ​out​ ​meat?​ ​​ ​Use​ ​only​ ​local, organic​ ​meat.​ ​​ ​In​ ​addition,​ ​replace​ ​one​ ​of​ ​your​ ​favorite​ ​imported​ ​foods​ ​with​ ​a​ ​local delicacy.​ ​Also,​ ​think​ ​about​ ​the​ ​food​ ​you​ ​normally​ ​eat​ ​during​ ​one​ ​week​ ​and​ ​calculate​ ​how far​ ​that​ ​food​ ​travels​ ​to​ ​get​ ​to​ ​your​ ​plate.​ ​​ ​During​ ​the​ ​week​ ​of​ ​Sukkot,​ ​try​ ​to​ ​cut​ ​those miles​ ​in​ ​half.

8. Go​ ​Vegetarian:​ ​Celebrate​ ​the​ ​bounty​ ​of​ ​the​ ​harvest​ ​by​ ​eating​ ​a​ ​vegetarian​ ​diet​ ​during the​ ​week​ ​of​ ​Sukkot.

Other​ ​useful​ ​resources​ ​on​ ​Judaism,​ ​sustainability,​ ​and​ ​environmentalism:​

Hazon.org
Urban​ ​Adamah
Wilderness​ ​Torah

CanfeiNesharim.org
Jewcology.org
Coalition​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Environment​ ​and​ ​Jewish​ ​Life​ ​(COEJL)