There is a man in Vermont who makes jigsaw puzzles. They are intricate, beautiful things made with a sense of irony, artistry and good humor. My favorite is one that can be put together in four different ways, but three of those assemblies cannot be completed. The very last piece will not fit, and the space left in the middle of the puzzle forms the shape of a devil. To get the full picture – it only works when all the pieces fit together.
The fall Jewish holidays work the same way. They come fast and furious with the new moon of Tishrei, but each in its own way provides a necessary puzzle piece that needs to be joined with all the rest. In other words, when it comes to Judaism ‘some assembly required.’
First there is Elul, the month preceding Rosh Ha-shanah, a time for preparation and stock taking. On the Day of Judgment our deeds are weighed in the balance. Shabbat Shuvah counsels us to return to the path of righteousness and blessing. On Yom Kippur we seek atonement and forgiveness. For these four observances we turn inward. Our spiritual work is personal. There is a somber and sobering quality to these holidays.
Then comes Sukkot, the festival of our rejoicing. Now, we turn our gaze outward and see ourselves in the context of a Universe and a God so vast as to defy our imagination and understanding. You site yourself in the immensity of creation. That’s why the roof of the sukkah must be open to the sky. Now, it’s not all about me. But just when you might begin to think of yourself as insignificant, Simchat Torah comes to teach that the Infinite God of Creation is also in a loving and intimate relationship with you and your community. The symbol and proof of that relationship is Torah.
And so we dance. Because now the puzzle pieces all fit together. It’s about me but not all about me. It’s sobering and exhilarating, both. You need all the elements - atonement , introspection, rejoicing, relationship and context - to get a true picture of Judaism and what it’s all about.
The Torah says that the person who fails to observe Yom Kippur, that person has ‘cut themselves off from the people.” Maybe that’s why so many people show up only at the end of the Day of Atonement. But what I do know is that if you pass up the chance to observe and celebrate the festivals , ALL OF THEM, you get an incomplete, skewed picture of what your faith wants you to know about yourself and your community.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Whiman