Adas Israel - Mason City, IA

Sukkot - Chag Sameach!

It's Sukkot the festival following Yom Kippur.  You can find the commandment to observe the festival in Bamidbar (Numbers) 29:12.  "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, there shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall do no laborious work; you shall celebrate a festival to G-d for a seven-day period."

You'll also find the commandment in Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:33.

Central to the celebration is the building of a sukkah or a temporary dwelling where we "dwell" for the days of the celebration.  The sukkah comes in all forms...but basic is the requirement that the roof should be of natural plant material and that you can see a bit of sky.  In other words they are not water-tight...they meant to be temporary.  What is the significance?  There are several:

• The Harvest - We get to live in Iowa where the harvest is in full swing.  Sukkot is also a "harvest festival".  Our people built booths near the fields so they might be able to carry on the harvest quickly.
• Our Life- Our lives are...temporary.  The sukkah reminds us that nothing is perminant and we should live our lives to the fullest each day.  In addition while a wind may blow it down, just like in life, setbacks come, but we re-build each time.
• The Experience- Many holidays in the Jewish Calendar deal with removing ourselves from our "normal" surroundings and having the experience of something "different".  Clearly "dwelling in the sukkah" for a week is...different and memorable.

Temple Times & Offerings for Gentiles

One of the more interesting, and perhaps unknown to many, commandments in the Torah was the sacrifice of "seventy young bulls" which was designed to protect the gentile nations from affliction.  How do we know this?  The number 70 corresponds to the number of primary nations enumerated in Bereishet (Genesis) Chapter 10.  Bet you didn't know...

The Lulav & Etrog

We are commanded to take up the "four species" Vayikra (Leviticus) 23: 40, "You shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of a citron tree, the branches of date palms, twigs of a plaited tree, and brook willows; and you shall rejoice before Hashem, your G-d, for a seven-day period."   We are told that these four species, when used together help us remember some basic principals.  The etrog (citron) resembles the heart; the lulav (palm branch), the spine;  the hadasim (myrtle leaves), the eyes; and the aravos, (willow branches), the lips.   When all are connected in following the mitzvot we are living a proper life.  When our heart, spine, eyes and lips live to honor G-d.  It's a good thing. 

Finally, Sukkot is a holiday with lots and lots of joy!  Celebrations and feeling good about life.  For a great video about the holiday and Israel here's a link.  Enjoy.

All of us at Adas Israel, Mason City wish for you the very best during the holiday.  If you would like to connect with us here is our Facebook Page or on Twitter it's @AdasIsraelMC.

Chag Sameach!  

Yom Kippur in Mason City - Adas Israel

"It was a spiritual experience that I hope connected with each of you and will help us   all make a difference in our lives this new year", said Sam Soifer, congregational president of the synagogue at the end of the Yom Kippur service.

People from across Northern Iowa came to pray, fast, experience and learn about the connection G-d has in their lives and how their lives can be set on the path to goodness and fullness.

We used, as much of the text, the book, The Non-Orthodox Jew's Guide to Orthodox Jews by David Baum as the basis of much of our learning about suffering, the afterlife and who G-d is and what He wants from us.  The over all theme continued to be that G-d is our Father, and just like fathers everywhere He simply wants the best for us.  We examined what it means to have a full and complete life.  What it means when times are not so good and what we can learn about "setbacks".

A big thank you to everyone who came, participated, learned and experienced an uplifting day.  Thank you must also be said to the Adas Israel Sisterhood who prepared a wonderful "Break the Fast" experience.  The food, following a 27 hour fast was...wonderful.

Next is Sukkot and the community marking of the holiday takes place on Sunday the 16th starting at 11:00AM.

May you all be inscribed in the Book of Life for health, sustanance and a Torah blesssed year.