My rabbi usually excuses himself from giving a sermon on Succoth, suggesting that the succah itself is a sermon.
As I built my succah last week I agreed with him. It is quite a substantial structure that can seat ten people whose comfort usually depends, not on the space but, on their warmth, so a good coat is important succahwear. To me, the succah is a wholly inappropriate concept for a British autumn, as its building seems to be God’s cue to unleash the heavens. It is, however, my link with ancient Israel, its agricultural economy, its harvest festivals and its people. It succeeds in a way that the Pesach story of the Exodus never seems to do.
The views expressed in this D’var Torah do not necessarily reflect the position of Leo Baeck College.