Dear Friends,
One of the most beautiful customs associated with the Holy Day of Sukkot is Ushpizin and Ushpizot. Kabbilistic tradition encourages us to invite a different holy guest into our sukkah each and every night of the holiday. These guests are carefully selected because of their status within Jewish tradition; Abraham, Sarah, King David, and Miriam, to name a just a few. These are guests whose spiritual presence not only enhances our Holy Day celebration, but encourages us to go above and beyond in our preparation and celebrations due to the merit and importance of our holy guests.
While this tradition is beautiful in concept, I cannot help but be bothered by the implication that we would be, or we should be better hosts, more welcoming, more involved and more engaged hosts, because of the importance of our guests.
Each and every person who enters our midst, whether a celebrity, someone whose family has been a member of the synagogue for generations, or maybe someone whom we have never seen before, is created B'tzelem Elohim, in the image of God, and is holy. Each and every person who walks into our sukkah, our synagogue, or our community, is a holy guest in their own right, and deserves to be welcomed and embraced by all of us.
Which is why it is my hope and prayer for all of us this Sukkot, and every day, that we welcome each and every person we encounter as if they are one of the Ushpizin or Ushpizot, and live up to our reputation as a warm, caring, welcoming community for all.
Wishing you all a Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Josh Dorsch
