Temple Emanu-El of Atlanta

Member Supported-Future Driven

  • My EmanuEl
  • Kesher Quick
  • TE Atlanta Calendar
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • About Us
    • We are…
    • Meet Our Clergy
      • Senior Rabbi Spike Anderson
      • Rabbi Rachael Klein Miller
      • Rabbi Max Miller
      • Rabbi Emeritus Scott Colbert
      • Rabbi Emeritus Stanley Davids
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Meet Our Leadership
    • Temple Emanu-El Calendar
    • Temple Emanu-El In the News
    • Contact Us
  • Belong
    • Membership
    • My Emanu-El
    • TEams and Committees
    • Inclusion Awareness
    • Friendship/Chavurah Program
    • Interfaith Families
    • NextDor 20s and 30s
    • Sisterhood
    • Brotherhood
  • Pray
    • Shabbat Services
    • High Holy Days 5783
    • Jewish Holidays
    • Tot Shabbat & Kid-ish
    • Rabbis’ Sermons
  • Learn
    • Diamond Family Religious School
      • About Our School
      • Meet Our Teachers
      • Our Curriculum
      • Diamond Family Religious School Pre-Kindergarten Program
      • Registration and Forms
      • Hebrew Skills
      • School Calendar
      • School Blog
    • Life Long Learning 5783
    • The MJCCA Schiff Preschool
    • Your Jewish Journey
    • Living History
  • Celebrate
    • Bar/Bat Mitzvah
    • Adult B’nei Mitzvah
    • Baby Naming & Brit Milah
    • Weddings
    • Becoming Jewish
    • Confirmation
    • Space Rental
    • L’Dor V’Dor Spring Forward Fundraiser 2022
  • Tikkun Olam
    • Social Justice
      • Hunger
      • Interfaith and Race Relations
      • Women and Children
      • Immigration Issues
      • Education
      • Environment
    • Israel and Peoplehood
  • Empower Youth
    • Youth Groups
      • TEFTY Youth Group
    • College Outreach
    • Jewish Summer Camps and Youth Resources
    • Youth Connectors
    • Schiffer Teen Israel Trip
    • Scholarships
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Endowment Fund
    • Life and Legacy
  • Remember
    • Funerals & Memorials
    • Grief
    • Yizkor Service
    • Talking to Kids About Death
    • Holocaust Remembrance
  • Live Stream

Sukkot at TE, THIS Sunday Night

October 6, 2022 by Rabbi Spike Anderson

I want to share that I found this year’s High Holiday services (and experience) one of the most personally fulfilling that I have ever experienced as a rabbi.

I am not speaking only of my personal prayer experience (which was very real), but also of our sacred collective.

It was wonderful to see a full sanctuary, and lots of people at our Brook Run Park services (including the kids’ service). The energy of our sacred space was uplifted, and hopeful, even in the midst of Yom Kippur’s solemnity.  There were times where I felt joy to the point of tears.

It felt like a community.

Each year, we take a breath after the final shofar blast, and begin to prepare for Sukkot.  In fact, there is a tradition that as soon as you break your fast, you begin to build your sukkah.  (In fact, I was working on mine this morning).

The theology behind this quick succession of holidays (as our rabbis present it) goes something like this:  On Yom Kippur you do the hard spiritual work of delving deep into yourself (and our society) so that you can come to terms with where we have fallen short.  You vow to do the work to get back on track.  This is “Choose Life” in practical terms.

The Sages give a nod to this, and point to the holiday of Sukkot as if to say, “good for you!...now, go build something.  Make your vows happen.”

And so, under the stars each night, Jews around the world gather in the sukkah to feel the joy of community and share the important lessons that have been passed down through generations.  Everything that exists in the sukkah are the things that are most important in life (family, friends, community, tradition, love); and everything else is (at best) a distant second.

This Sunday night Sukkot beings.

We will be gathering in (and around) our Temple Emanu-El Sukkah for a celebration under the stars.  We have a classical harpist and violinist coming to play as we dine (bring your own), and play some Sukkot trivia.   Most of all, Sukkot is fun.

I look forward to seeing you all there. Register for Sukkot Under The Stars

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Spike

SENIOR RABBI SPIKE ANDERSON

Filed Under: kesherquick

Visit Us

Temple Emanu-El
1580 Spalding Drive
Atlanta, GA 30350

Union for Reform Judasim

Union for Reform Judasim

Contact Us

(770) 395-1340

Diamond Family Religious School

Diamond Family Religious School

MJCCA The Schiff School

MJCCA The Schiff School
  • TE Israel Trip Summer 2022
  • My Emanu-El
  • Kesher Quick
  • Calendar
Copyright © 2023 Temple Emanu-El
Scroll Up