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Sukkot starts on Monday night, light candles at 7:10pm. On Tuesday night, light candles after 8:09pm from a pre-existing flame. Yom Tov ends on Wednesday night at 8:10pm.

Shabbat Chol Hamo’ed: light candles on Friday 10th at 7:14pm; ends Saturday 8:13pm.

Last days of Sukkot (Shmini Atzeret & Simchat Torah) start on Monday 13th, light candles at 7:17pm. On Tuesday night, light candles after 8:16pm from a pre-existing flame. Yom Tov ends on Wednesday night at 8:18pm.

Mincha continues after Sukkot at 1.45pm at A-P GF/459 Collins Mon-Wed, and Thu 1.45pm at L1 Capital using the WhatsApp group to confirm numbers.

Weekly sushi & shiur continues on Wed at 1.20pm (before mincha) at A-P GF/459 Collins – and via zoom. Current topic: law of neighbours. Details here and on the WhatsApp group.

Thought of the Week with thanks to Josh Wasbutzki.

During the entire Sukkot holiday we are accustomed to say this prayer in the blessing after meals, based on the verse, “On that day I will establish the fallen sukkah of David” (Amos 9:11).

Why is this image chosen to represent the people of Israel? Wasn’t it possible to pick some more appropriate image?

The Davidic dynasty is referred to as “sukkah”, albeit royalty generally being referred to as a house. That is, something that has a powerful existence in the world is referred to as a house, which is a permanent
structure. Similarly, a royal dynasty is referred to as a house, because of its strength and permanence.

But when a house falls, its original essence is negated. When it is later rebuilt it becomes a totally new house. That rebuilt house is not referred to as the house that had fallen, for the original house has already been negated. Rather, it is as if a totally new house has now been built.

A sukkah, though, is not a house, not a complete and permanent structure. If it falls, it can easily be put up again; if it falls, it is can appropriately be referred to as being re-established.  It returns to its original essence.

Thus, the Kingdom of the House of David, always ready to be re-established after having fallen, is referred to as the Kingdom of “David’s fallen sukkah”.  Even after its fall it retains its identity as a “sukkah”. This is because a sukkah is always ready to be put back up, and it is easy to do so.

A house’s fall is complete and final, and putting it back up is impossible. A sukkah, on the other hand, even though it can easily fall, can be put up again.

This is what typifies Israel and Israel’s kingdom.  A house is stable, and has the ability to withstand nature’s violent storms; but once it falls, it is no longer possible for that house to be put up again. What is
reconstructed is something new. A sukkah, by contrast, isn’t stable; any unusually strong wind will knock it down. The same is true for the Kingdom of Israel: it is fragile, falls easily, and doesn’t resist storms and shocks. But it always rises back up and stands on its feet again.

May we all be blessed to see the fallen sukkah of the Kingdom of David rise back up again, and see brighter, happier days for the Jewish people.