Sukkot comes so quickly on the heels of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur that it can get lost in the shuffle. As I have written before, the holiday is a beautiful emotional release coming in the wake of the serious period of introspection and soul-searching required by the Yamim Noraim. Sukkot is celebrated out of doors in a sukkah. It entails enjoying the change of scene and the beautiful fall colors. It is an opportunity to consider the nomadic lives of our ancestors who, according to tradition, lived in huts as they wandered in the Sinai wilderness.

Even as we consider Sukkot, we should also consider Simchat Torah, the final holiday of this sacred season, through the lens of narrative and story that I discussed during the holy days. Simchat Torah celebrates and enacts our never-ending story. It so dramatically portrays what anthropologists refer to as "the myth of the eternal return," wherein every year even as time progresses linearly (2002, 2003, 2004...5762, 5763, 5764...). we also carry the image of time passing in a cycle. Simchat Torah depicts that message so powerfully, especially as we unroll the entire scroll and both literally and figuratively place ourselves inside the master story of our people. So beyond the flag waving, marching, singing, noise and fun, Simchat Torah is the most fitting way to conclude our holy days - with its symbols capturing the human essences of myth and time. If you have never seen an entire Torah scroll unrolled, you will not want to miss our Simchat Torah worship services.

Additionally for us at Micah, Sukkot enables us to capture one other wonderful aspect of the ancient celebration of Sukkot - our yard sale. Sukkot was a time of community gathering as pilgrim farmers from all over Israel would gather in Jerusalem. Our yard sale is a festival in its own right - one of the most fun days of our year. Come, buy, sell, shmooze, nibble. It is a great time for a great cause.

Finally, as we leave the holy day season we must thank all of the people who work so hard to make our celebrations such a success - so beautiful and so smooth. Our professional administrative staff is amazing - Susie Blumenthal and Allan Stump do it all. Debra Beland is simply a gift of near-infinite value when it comes to Jewish education and working with our students. Teddy Klaus and Meryl Weiner have talents that are both beautiful and rare. They make our worship unsurpassed in beauty. Finally, Sheri Blotner, Ilene Shaw, and Lori Manasse have been incredible in overseeing the myriad of necessary preparations. Thank you to all of them.

From our house to yours - a joyous Sukkot!