Sukkot: A Time to Breathe

There’s something special about sitting in the Sukkah.

The weeks leading up to Sukkot are some of the most intense of the year — the spiritual weight of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the rush to build the Sukkah, to get the Lulav and Etrog, to prepare for guests and meals. It’s beautiful and meaningful… but it’s also a lot.

And then, finally, Sukkot arrives.

I sit down in the Sukkah with a cup of tea and a piece of cake. I make the blessing, lean back, and breathe. The gentle rustle of the schach above me, the light streaming through the leaves — it’s the perfect space to exhale after the whirlwind of the past month.

In that quiet, something powerful happens. I begin to reflect.

How quickly time has passed.

What were the highlights of this past year?

What do I have to look forward to in the new one?

How much has changed in the last decade?

And where am I heading next?

The Sukkah, in its simplicity, becomes a sanctuary of thought. It invites gratitude for everything that has unfolded and hope for what’s yet to come.

This is the gift of Sukkot: a moment to pause, reflect, and realign.

May we all find time to sit in our Sukkah — To breathe deeply, to be grateful, and to dream about the year ahead.

Chag Sameach