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/ #3133 Storms disturb Succot in ‘sign of divine anger’

2012-10-02 00:37




Storms disturb Succot in ‘sign of divine anger’


By JEREMY SHARON10/01/2012 21:08

Dramatic storms, strong rains drench diners and in some cases rip insubstantial Succah roofs right of their walls. PHOTO: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST As the brooding, sullen evening skies of Sunday evening slipped into darkness, people all over the country left their houses to eat the festive evening meal of the Succot holiday in their specially built temporary Succah huts.

But the hard work and effort put into erecting these flimsy dwellings was undone by dramatic storms and strong rains in many locales that drenched diners and in some cases ripped insubstantial Succah roofs right of their walls.

Wine was diluted, challah bread soaked and moods dampened by the downpours, with many people electing to retreat back into their homes at differing stages of their holiday meals.

Those who defied the elements, however, were treated to spectacular lightening displays and heavy peals of thunder as they ploughed on with their chicken soup and holishkas, a traditional Succot delicacy of steamed cabbage leaves stuffed with meat.

Rabbi Benny Lau, head of the Ramban synagogue in south Jerusalem and a prominent figure in the national-religious community, said in his sermon Monday morning that the rains on the first night of Succot conveyed definite divine displeasure, referencing a passage from the Talmud on the topic of rain during the Succot festival.

“This is the first time since I can remember that I have not been able to sleep in the Succah on the first night of Succot and it feels as if God has humiliated us,” the rabbi told his congregation.

In many places in the Diaspora where rain during Succot is common one does not take inclement weather during the festival to heart, he continued.

“But during Succot in Israel God invites us into the Succah, which is in effect His house under His protection. After Yom Kippur, to sleep in the Succah, is a happy and tranquil experience, but when it rains it’s as if God is kicking us back out again, which we should take as a sign of rebuke and reproach.”

According to Rabbi Lau, the message that should be heard is that of the importance of bettering interpersonal relations

“We must know how to treat our fellow man, our relations between each other need to be less violent. You cannot treat people in this way and then go into God’s house to live under his protection.”