One of the components of a Sukkah that makes it kosher is that it cannot be a permanent structure. The roof must be open enough so that stars can be seen through the covering even as it shades us from the sun. Though the walls needn’t be a natural substance, the roof itself must be. As part of the mitzvah, the Sukkah must be a place in which one can rejoice, so any decorative item (paintings, lighting) or furnishing (couches, rugs) that adds to one’s enjoyment is fair game! One is literally commanded to rejoice during Sukkot–Zman Simchateinu–the season of our rejoicing.
I find myself thinking of a Sukkah when I pass by the numerous encampments of homeless people throughout our city. How different their temporary dwellings are from our Sukkot! Choosing to spend a celebratory week in the elements is so different from being forced to sleep on the sidewalk or near a freeway offramp or any of the places where people setup their inadequate shelters. Lately, a number of agencies have set up tiny home villages throughout the city. Though an imperfect solution in so many ways, these semi-permanent yet weatherproof dwellings also evoke thoughts of the Sukkah. Because though they are a far cry from a tent in a city park, they are still not meant to house a human for the long term.
In so many ways, my years of efforts on behalf of the homeless have been inspired by the week that I spend in the Sukkah each year. My joy in the holiday is tempered by the misery of my fellow humans who can hardly dream of escaping the misery of their inadequate “Sukkah.” The causes of this uniquely American epidemic and its solutions are complex and multilayered and yet, I cannot turn a blind eye to the circumstances. Lately, I’ve become very involved with Hope the Mission. It has quickly become one of the largest providers of meals, housing, and services to the homeless in our county. While there is not one answer to the problem of the unhoused, I’m proud to be associated with an agency that is meeting the problem head on. If you’d like to learn more, please reach out to me. You can also join our Wise Team for Hope to raise money to support Hope the Mission at their upcoming Thanksgiving Day walk/run called the Drumstick Dash!
— Rabbi Ron Stern