USCJ: September 2007

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Shiurim >> Archive >> September 2007

Shiurim

Shiurim Archive

USCJ EC Staff Meeting Shiur - September 2007

When you sit in the sukkah, “the shade of faithfulness,” the Shechina spreads Her wings over you and... Abraham, five other righteous ones, and King David make their dwelling with you.... Thus you should rejoice with a shining countenance each and every day of the festival together with these guests who lodge with you.

- Zohar Emor, 103b

Questions for Discussion:

What do guests add to our celebration of Sukkot and our time in the sukkah?
If you build a sukkah at your house, tell your favorite story about a guest who shared a meal with you there. If you’ve dined in someone else’s sukkah, relate your favorite sukkah visit (and be sure to share the reasons why it was the best). If you have no personal sukkah experience, go to www.youtube.com, search “sukkah” and “Sukkot” and watch a couple of videos. My personal favorites include “Sukkah Preparations – Sukkah Building,” “The Sukkot Shake,” “Sukkot” and “happy sukkot.”
Each night of Sukkot, a prayer is recited asking a biblical figure to come and visit in the sukkah. The seven ushpizin –guests – are usually Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph, and David. Various traditions, both medieval and modern, invite female guests, or ushpizot, to the sukkah as well. According to the tradition of medieval Italian kabbalist Menachem Azariah of Fano, the ushpizot are Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Huldah, and Esther, because these women are distinguished in the Talmud as prophetesses. Other traditions include such biblical figures as Rebecca, Leah, Rachel, Dinah, Tamar, or Ruth.

What do you know about any of these people? Why would our tradition include inviting “imaginary” guests to the sukkah?

Having ushpizin in the sukkah along with real guests, family and friends, gives children an opportunity to practice the mitzvah of hachnasat orchim. How might you use the concept of ushpizin and the stories of these biblical characters to increase the joy and meaning of your class’s Sukkot celebration this year?

Opening quote from Ritualwell.org.

For more information and stories for each of the ushpizin, click here.

Printable version

Maxine Segal Handelman
Consultant for Early Childhood Education,
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism