For years we have held the Sukkot BBQ on the first day of Chag Sukkot. This year when we looked at the calendar, we saw that the first day is on Oct 7th. Like most of us, Oct 7th has become synonymous with the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust. This date will forever be known in our history. Was it okay to hold our Sukkot BBQ on Oct 7th? Should we hold this joyous event on that day? Very quickly, we decided that it was not just okay but important that we bring people together on this day.
Our theme for this year’s BBQ is Jewish Unity. It was that spirit of Unity that changed Israel from a society being torn apart by internal politics on Oct 6th, to one that rose together to respond after Oct 7th. IDF units called up reserve soldiers and got a response of over 100 percent. Israelis volunteered in factories, farms, hospitals to keep life going. The Diaspora responded as well, raising millions to support Israel and let our brothers and sisters know that they are not alone.
Sukkot and the theme of Unity go together.
- Bringing the Lulav/Etrog bundle together each morning of Sukkot symbolizes the Unity of the Jewish people.
- The Sukkah itself is unifying. “Every citizen of Israel should dwell in Sukkot” (Emor 33:42) implies that all of Klal Yisrael can sit in one sukkah which highlights the idea that the sukkah is a structure that unifies the Jewish people.
- The Beit HaMikdash is referred to as a sukkah. The Beit HaMikdash is the ultimate place of peace and unity, and it can stand when the hearts of Klal Yisrael are unified, not when there is disagreement and strife among them (Yoma 9b).
From the very start of our BBQ nearly 20 years ago, the best feature of this event is that people come from all parts of the Jewish community to celebrate Sukkot together. We hope that you will join us and hundreds of others in our annual communal expression of Jewish unity.
Wynnewood Sukkot BBQ 