It was one of those dreams one doesn’t forget.
At least not now.
The rabbi had retired, but he was preparing to lead a service for Sukkot.
He knew that the Lulav, with its palm, willow and myrtle branches, and the etrog were waiting patiently in the Temple refrigerator.
There would be no physical Sukkah, but there would be familiar prayers, the same ones recited during past Sukkot celebrations.
The night before the service, the rabbi was having a restless night. He finally fell back asleep.
Suddenly, he found himself in the Temple playground.
Two figures materialized - a man and a woman.
They were dressed in clothing that looked like....branches, leaves, artistic decorations, and fruit.
They were covered from head to toe in these strange and unique garments.
To the rabbi’s delight - and even slight horror, they spoke, but with gentle, reassuring voices.
The man said, “Rabbi, I am ARAV,”
The woman introduced herself, “I am HADAS.”
The Rabbi said, “Mr. Willow and Ms. Myrtle. Wonderful names! Which is why you both look like...
“A Sukkah. Yes, Rabbi!” Exclaimed Hadas.
“Why are you here?” Asked the rabbi. The Temple did not build a Sukkah this year because...
“Yes, we know all about the pandemic,” ARAV said. “We know that more people than ever before are building a Sukkot at their homes, if they are able. We know that fewer congregations are building Sukkot outside their buildings. We just came to tell you what you might do to remember what it’s like to be together in a community Sukkah .”
The rabbi said, “What can we do? ARAV, HADAS, tell me!”
HADAS spoke first. “Rabbi we know you have quite a collection of photos of past Sukkot celebrations. Making and hanging decorations, building the Sukkah, and then images of people gathered in the Sukkah for that really cool service. We love the way you play ‘Turn, Turn, Turn,’ by the way.”
ARAV continued, “Rabbi, take some of those photos and add them to a song about Sukkot on — what is it called? - a computer.”
HADAS chimed in, “ARAV, don’t you know about iMOVIE? Rabbi, you know what to do. All of those memories will come flooding back when you see those photos: they will carry you through this year’s Sukkot until you can be together in the Temple Sukkah again next year.”
ARAV added, “All true, HADAS, but you know that they can still take a photo in their Sukkot worship space - just like before....all right, almost like before. Their faces will all be together in their virtual Zoom Sukkah. Aren’t you amazed, HADAS, that they have figured out how to join together to celebrate the holiday? They could have thought of themselves as lost in the desert. They are not lost at all! They are joyful! And they are hopeful!”
HADAS said, “YES ARAV - you are so right. Rabbi, make that video from the pictures from the past. Next year, you can include photos from this year to remind you of how you all overcame obstacles to celebrate as a community.”
The rabbi thought for a moment. “ARAV, HADAS, what great ideas and thoughts. I will start looking through my photos. I have just the song, too, as the soundtrack. I promise I will get to work....”
Before the rabbi could say, “as soon as I can,” he was awake. He got out of bed in the middle of the night and created a retrospective: a reminder of Sukkot celebrations past, and of those yet to come.
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