Rabbi Janine's Messages

Etrogs and lulavs in KHN's sukkah
Photo by Rabbi Janine

Dear Community, 

On the fifteenth day of Tishrei during the fall harvest, our ancestors would gather together and  celebrate a festival for seven days called Sukkot. 

On the first day [of the festival] you shall take the fruit of hadar trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of a leafy tree, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before Gd for seven days. Lev 23:40

Today we gather these four sacred plants known as arba’ah minim or the four species. Taken together, the four species represent a unity of physical and spiritual elements. Each species is said to kabbalistically represent an aspect of the human body; the etrog represents the heart, the lulav represents the spine, the willow leaves represent the lips, and the myrtle the eyes. 

When we gather the lulav and etrog together we are symbolically gathering all of the different parts of ourselves with intention. This intention can help us to focus on our actions in the world: 

The etrog (citron) is the heart. Admiring the hearts ability to do good is integral to making the world a better place. 

The lulav (palm) is the spine. The spine represents the structural support of the body. The palm branch is also flexible, not rigid, which reminds us to have flexibility in life. 
 
The aravot (willow leaves) resemble lips. We are reminded through them of the power of words and the ability to create harmony through communication. 

And finally, the hadasim (myrtle leaves) are almond shaped leaves which represent the eyes. We are reminded of the importance of perceiving the world through a loving gaze, not through harsh criticism and cynicism.  
 
I hope you will join us tonight for our big celebration of Shabbat Sukkot. 

Here is the schedule for Friday, October 10:  

5:30 p.m. Tots and Kids service  and pizza in sukkah
6:15 p.m. Dessert/Backwards Dinner with congregation
6:30 p.m. Pizza and potluck (bring a side) with congregation. This is everyone's chance to eat in the sukkah with the KHN community this week!
7 p.m. Memorial Service for October 7th and Shabbat Services 

A quick reminder that we will be having services on Tuesday, October 14 at
10 a.m. for Shemini Atzeret (the end of Sukkot) with Yizkor services. There will be a kiddush potluck following services.  

The sukkah continue to be open to everyone to use every day and night of Sukkot when we do not have a planned event happening at that time. The best night for people looking to have a full sukkot experience of shaking the lulav (before Shabbat starts) and eating in the sukkah with others will be tonight. 

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Sukkot! 

Rabbi Janine Jankovitz 
​​​​​​​She/Her