Notes From the Lampert Library
Sukkot always begins on Tishrei 15, right smack in the middle of the lunar month when the moon can shed its best light. This year that date corresponds to the evening of September 27. While the autumn days are getting shorter and the nights are cooling off, the daylight hours can be gloriously beautiful. The warm sunshine makes the turning leaves glow, the humidity is gone, and the shade provides a cooling off spot from the still warm rays of the sun.
What better time of year to celebrate a Thanksgiving and welcome guests into our (temporary) home.
It has long been a custom to decorate the walls of the sukkah with pictures of some special guests who are symbolically invited in. Called ushpizin (Aramaic for guests), the list includes Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David. Some people add the matriarchs and other Biblical women, loved ones or people from history. The “guests” are greeted with the following words: Enter, exalted holy ushpizin…
On Tuesday, September 29, Shomrei will invite its own special guests – weather permitting – to dine in the sukkah. On that evening we at Shomrei begin our MESH year. MESH, as many of you know, is a nonprofit organization that provides services to the homeless and economically challenged of all ages. These services include shelter in winter, meals several nights a week, and a growing list of additional services.
Every Tuesday evening a group of Shomrei volunteers ranging from teens to octogenarians cooks and serves a homemade, nutritious and often restaurant quality multi-course meal. No peanut butter sandwiches or overcooked pasta for our guests at the MESH Café.
Our guests are most appreciative for the tasty soups, crisp salads, nutritious vegetables, hearty entrees, and comforting desserts that they get here every week.
At this time of year, when we are rethinking our priorities and maybe looking for ways to give back to the community, MESH provides an opportunity for doing a great mitzvah. Like Abraham who welcomed guests to his tent, we at Shomrei welcome guests to our more substantial home.
We can always use people and donations to help support this mitzvah. You don’t need to be a great cook. Sous chefs are just as important as the main chef who wears the tall white toque.
For further information about volunteering for MESH, contact Lynne Kurzweil, Amy Grossman or Aileen Grossberg.
Related reading on Sukkot:
Gellman, Tamar’s Sukkah (J)
Kimmel, Mysterious Guests (J)
Polacco, Tikvah means Hope (J)
Rouss, Watermelon in the Sukkah (J)
Goodman, The Sukkot and Simchat Torah Anthology
Steinberg, Celebrating the Jewish Year: The Fall Holidays
Steinberger, The Steinberger Sukkah
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