Lisa Engel: Stars, Branches & Awe; Federations Hail Shalit's Expected Return
JEWISH FEDERATIONS HAIL SHALIT'S EXPECTED RETURN
The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) heralded the announcement Tuesday of the expected release of Israel Defense Forces Corporal Gilad Shalit after more than five years of being held captive by Hamas. According to reports, Shalit will be freed in a prisoner exchange.
Jewish communities and Federations across North America, including The Birmingham Jewish Federation, have been campaigning for Shalit's release since his capture, working publicly and behind the scenes to increase awareness, lobby government and international officials and raise funds to free him.
"It is difficult to find words to describe the excitement and relief being felt here in Israel on this exciting day. I know that Jewish communities across North America share these emotions," said Rebecca Caspi, director general of JFNA's Israel office. "The Jewish Federations stand with Israel in times of need as well as in times of celebration."
Caspi also underscored the need to continue focusing on helping the victims of terror. "We are acutely aware of the difficulty and pain of those victims of terror and their families who have had to accept the release of terrorists from prison. Our thoughts go out to these Israelis while we pray for Gilad's speedy re-entry to life in Israel."
"The redemption of captives, along with the supreme value of human life, is among the most important teachings in Judaism," she added. "We empathize with the Israeli government over the difficult choices it was forced to make in agreeing to this deal, but we are also overjoyed of the news that Gilad may now be heading home to his parents and loved ones, and back with the People of Israel."
SUKKOT FESTIVAL BEGINS TONIGHT
The Jewish festival of Sukkot begins tonight. Sukkot has a dual significance: historical and agricultural.
Historically, Sukkot commemorates the 40-year period during which the Children of Israel were wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters. Agriculturally, Sukkot is a harvest festival and is sometimes referred to as the Festival of Ingathering.
The word "Sukkot" means "booths," and refers to the temporary dwellings that Jews are commanded to live in during this holiday in memory of the period of wandering. Many Birmingham Jewish families build such booths as part of their observance of Sukkot. It is a holiday of remembrance, celebration and thanksgiving.
There will be no Birmingham Jewish Federation Update Thursday and Friday due to the holiday.
Above is from Judaism 101 website.
'BRIGHT STARS, BRANCHES& THE AWE OF CREATION'
The following is from Birmingham Jewish Federation volunteer leader Lisa Engel. Lisa is currently co-chairing The BJF's Jewish Community Relations Coalition with Amanda Weil through our new Inter-Generational Leadership Model. Lisa wrote the following for Sukkot.
By Lisa Engel
This year, after Yom Kippur, I found myself wondering whether my husband, Alan, and I would put up our sukkah on the deck behind our house.
Sukkot, a fall harvest festival of thanksgiving that starts tonight, also commemorates the 40 years the Jews wandered in the desert before entering the Promised Land. It is customary to build a temporary shelter, a sukkah, outside our homes in which we eat our meals for the seven days of the holiday.
Our family began putting up a sukkah about 20 years ago when my oldest daughter, Andrea, was in the first grade at the N.E.Miles Jewish Day School. She incessantly begged us to build a sukkah so that her classmates could visit our home as part of "sukkah hopping," a wonderful custom at the NEMJDS to visit homes of classmates to enjoy their family's sukkah and fun activities and snacks.
So, we energetically bought a sukkah kit that year, had a neighborhood party to erect and decorate it, and welcomed visitors throughout the week as is customary. And, each year after that, it was an eagerly awaited family tradition.
But today, our youngest daughter, Ilana, is a senior at Indian Springs School and boarding during the week. And, our other two daughters are living out of town. I thought about Alan hauling the sukkah pieces out of the basement, the two of us taking several hours to put it up, and then hanging the well-worn kids decorations from years ago.
REPLENISHING & NURTURING
As I thought about the time and work involved, I soon realized that the celebration of Sukkot has not just been a fun family activity; it has been replenishing and nurturing for me as well. Sitting outside in the sukkah each night, I see the bright stars through the branches on the roof and I am filled with the awe of creation. It is in this magnificence of nature that I embrace the hope for a new year and the opportunity for new beginnings.
Under the shelter of the sukkah, I feel safe and at peace, a link in the chain between our past and our future. I did not want to give up this treasured observance, so we decided to erect our sukkah once again this year. As Sukkot approaches tonight, I'm filled with anticipation for the renewal and connection that our family sukkah brings.
This year, as Co-Chair of The Birmingham Jewish Federation's Jewish Community Relations Coalition, I find an added dimension to Sukkot. Just as we open our sukkah to guests, so too are The BJF and JCRC open to our entire Jewish community and to our friends in the broader community as well. And, like a sukkah, The BJF is a place where our community can gather, find shelter, give thanksgiving and feel G-d's presence through the holy work we do.
On behalf of The BJF and JCRC, I wish all in our Jewish community a joyous and peaceful Sukkot, and I thank our friends in the broader community for entering our BJF "sukkah" with enduring friendship and support!
