Sukkot and Simchat Torah 2026/5787 at TBH-BA

Sukkot and Simchat Torah 2026/5787 at TBH-BA

Joyously and festively, TBH-BA celebrated Sukkot and Simchat Torah 5787 on a warm, early October evening.  As we gathered for the pot-luck dinner, Rabbi Harrison welcomed us in song, with a lovely english horn accompaniment by a friend and former congregant, on his first visit to TBH-BA.    After dinner, we moved to our sukkah, quite impermanent, but evoking feelings of wandering and return, vulnerability and faith.  If you saw the sukkah, you know it was gorgeous, decorated with love and artistry by TBH-BA’s extraordinary team of congregants, Mikaela Simon, Andrei Simon, Jennifer Simon, Merle Silver, Karen and Barry Horwitz,  bringing to mind a comment by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: “The universe is the space God makes for us.  The sukkah, with its incomplete roof and its door open to strangers, is the space we make for God.”

We welcomed Shabbat in the sukkah; Rabbi Harrison spoke about Sukkot custom and ritual; and we shook the lulav and enjoyed the fragrance of the etrog.

We moved back inside to the sanctuary for the Simchat Torah celebration, where we each had an opportunity to carry a Torah for a hakafah around the congregation, some walking, some dancing to the music soundtrack,  all immersing themselves in a joyful moment.  Rabbi Harrison invited every person to the Torah for an aliyah, as she chanted the concluding verses of Deuteronomy from one Torah, and the beginning verses of Genesis from the other, beginning our spiritual journey into a new year.

Sukkot and Simchat Torah remind us of the cycle of life, the frailty and uncertainty of human existence, and our obligation to bring mitzvot into the world,  so it was fitting that TBH-BA President Jay Einstein spoke about the mitzvah of donating winter coats to those in our community who struggle to provide for themselves and their families. It is easy to forget those who live in modern-day sukkot—crumbling buildings or cardboard shelters – facing the uncertainty of each day.  Jay encouraged each of us to contribute a coat to carry out this much-needed act of tzedakah.

Sukkot is known as z’man simchateinu, “the season of our rejoicing.”   Our TBH-BA celebration was exactly that.  Rejoicing as we begin a new year.  Rejoicing in renewal of spirit as we begin a new cycle of Torah.  And rejoicing in knowing that we are not alone, and that we celebrate the gift of life with our beloved community, with those who share our history, values and hope.