In honor of Sukkot our holiday of Ushpizim, or guests, I would like to share a few guest teachings I was inspired by in recent days:
The first two come from CSS members’ who had their “My View” columns published last week in the Buffalo News. If you are not familiar, “My View” is a column in the editorial section of the paper that anyone can submit toward. I read them almost every day, both because I really like the articles, and because so many of our members are authors.
1. On September 19th, Mitch Steinhorn, the director of Amherst Memorial and CSS Member, wrote about his new exercise habit in a column entitled: “A little pain, a lot of gains from workout regimen.” He had a little trick for getting himself up and out of the door in the morning that I think would be helpful to anyone starting something new. He wrote, “In the beginning it was hard. The biggest challenge was dragging myself out of bed that early in the morning. I needed help. I needed a trick to do it. So I positioned my alarm clock far enough away from the bed that I had to physically get up and walk over to turn it off. Since I was already out of bed, I just started my day.” What is your version of a hard to reach alarm clock that will motivate you to start something new?
2. The very next day, on the 20th, CSS member Vickie Rubin wrote a column about downsizing entitled, “After selling the house, it’s goodbye to all that.” Her insight into the prospect of packing was that, “we are not collectors of junk, but rather hoarders of memories.” What a refreshing way to look at our possessions, and why it is so difficult for us to part with them.
The last teaching comes from my colleague down the road at Temple Beth Zion, Rabbi Jonathan Freirich, who shared a story at our joint Sukkot service on Monday about a professor who was accosted by a “know-it-all” while she was waiting to board a plane at the airport. Luckily for her, a bystander stepped into to let the man have it for his rude behavior.
Rabbi Freirich’s insight was that in doing so the bystander was creating a sukkah, or a temporary shelter of peace for the professor. He encouraged us to not think of a sukkah only as a physical structure, but also as a safe place to be vulnerable in our day to day lives. He told us that if each of us stood up for someone else a few times a month, in the same way the bystander did for the professor, the world would be a better place for everyone.
I hope you enjoyed each of these teachings as much as I did.
Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Alex