|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
The mitzvah of preparing the home and body for the festival. The mitzvah of blessing children, (parents) and spouse. The mitzvah of praying for the well-being of humanity. (In ancient times, Jews brought sacrifices to the Temple for the welfare of all humanity.) The mitzvah of TSEDEKAH, including charities to help non-Jews. The custom of making love on the day of the festival. The mitzvah of hospitality. Invite guests -- relatives, friends, strangers -- to eat with you in the sukkah (USHPIZIN). Traditionally, USHPIZIN represents the inviting of our forefathers -- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron and David--to lend their presence and join us in the sukkah, one special invitee for each night. Invite these Biblical figures; invite their female counterparts--Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, Rachel, Miriam, Deborah, and Hulda, for example; or choose other figures from Jewish history past and present; or invite a different group each year after discussing whom to invite and why. Bless the children following their group ALIYAH (KOL HANEARIM) on Simchat Torah with Jacob's blessing (Genesis 48: 15-16). Copyright (c) 1988 by CLAL, written by Rabbi Anson Laytner, Author of "Arguing with God: A Jewish Tradition"
|
