Using Sukkot to Teach Hospitality
It seems hard to believe, but we are only halfway through the fall holidays! Up next is Sukkot (festival of booths). Beginning on Sunday night, many Jewish families will enjoy meals, and even sleepovers, outdoors in temporary homes called sukkot (the singular is a sukkah), inviting others to join them.
The practice of inviting others into the sukkah to celebrate makes this holiday a perfect opportunity to practice the Jewish value of Hachnassat Orchim (welcoming guests). Hachnassat Orchim creates an obligation to welcome others into your home, or your sukkah, with a glad heart and sincere greetings. From preparing for the guests to offering a heartfelt welcome when they arrive, we can model this value for our children and involve them, too. And when we are the guests, we can model it by being gracious and thankful, possibly expressing our gratitude by bringing a small gift, helping to clean up after the meal, or sending a thank you note to the hosts.
Sukkot is only eight days long, but the values it teaches us can be felt for much longer. I hope you will join the communal celebrations by sharing pictures of your sukkah, visiting one of the many public sukkot at local synagogues or JCCs, or joining a sukkot program.
Chag Sukkot Sameach (happy Sukkot holiday),
Sarah
Additional Resources
- PJ Library’s Guide to the Fall Holidays (PJ Library)
- Ideas for Celebrating with Grandparents (Federation’s Jconnect)
- Learn more about Sukkot (PJ Library)
- Learn more about Simchat Torah (PJ Library)
- Sukkot and Simchat Torah Ideas (Pinterest)