On Monday, as one of the IJN staffers scrambled to finish a story before erev Sukkot, the first phone call arrived. The caller belonged to the DAT Minyan which the writer has never attended. Will you come to our sukkah? he asked. Who, me? Yes, you. Then a second person called the staffer. My wife and I would like to invite you to our sukkah . . . No pressure, just show up. Wed love to have you. By afternoon, four invitations, all from the DAT Minyan, had arrived.
A little birdie told us that Rabbi Joshua Hess, leader of the DAT Minyan, suggested that his congregants should reach out to the community-at-large on the festival of Sukkot. In other words, dont limit your guests to the people you see in shul all the time. Widen the list; include people you know only slightly, or would like to know a little better.
As of presstime, a stubborn and wrathful cold has prevented the staffer from attending a single sukkah yet. Still, the writer is warmed by this unexpected chesed, these sweet intentions.
Sukkat shalom. Shelter of peace.
Even if one cannot experience the real thing, just being asked is peace enough. People are remembered and it feels wonderful.
