A Solemn Sukkot in 2025

 

Families of hostages and their supporters hold a Sukkot meal in front of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem, October 6, 2025. (Idit Avishay/Pro-Democracy Protest Movement)

 When the seventh month came and the Israelites were in their  towns, the people gathered together as one in Jerusalem. Then Jeshua son of Jozadak with his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel with his kin set out to build the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as prescribed in the law of Moses the man of God. They set up the altar on its foundation because they were in dread of the people of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings upon it to the Lord, morning and evening.  

And they kept the Festival of Booths, as prescribed, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the ordinance, as required for each day, and after that the regular burnt offerings, the offerings at the new moon and at all the sacred festivals of the Lord, and the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offering to the Lord

Ezra 3: 1-5 NRSVue

I attended seminary in Toronto, going on 50 years ago. At that time my mother was working in the city and living in a residential area up Bathhurst St. that was predominantly Jewish -- there was a synagogue five minutes walk away. It was a toney area with beautiful established homes but during one Fall visit I was taken aback by the scenario in the backyard next door. There was an open-sided hut with branches forming the roof. There were a number of people in it sharing a meal and appearing to be having a good time. This structure was a "sukkah" or "booth", erected for a week. And this was Sukkot, a Jewish holiday that celebrates the harvest, following the solemn occasion of Yom Kippur. 

Sukkot has a different tone for many Jews this year because the holiday began last evening and this first day marks the second anniversary of the horrendous attacks by the terrorist group Hamas on Israeli communities and a music festival that killed 1200 people. At least 200 more were taken into Gaza as hostages. Some were eventually released, others died in captivity, and some languish in the tunnels where Hamas has held out in fighting with Israeli forces.

Last evening Sukkot began for some Israeli Jews with a meal in front of the home of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a wolf in sheep's clothing. There is a strong sentiment that Netanyahu has prolonged the war in Gaza to avoid being removed from office and facing criminal charges. Families of the hostages shared in this meal as a solemn statement that Netanyahu's government must work toward a ceasefire and possibly a peace agreement which will bring their loved ones home. 

During these past two years Israel has bombarded Gaza into rubble and made living in the West Bank a nightmare. Hamas must be ousted but the deaths of 67,000 Palestinians, predominantly civilians, including thousands of children, is a crime agains humanity. 

Today we can join our prayers with those of the families and millions of others for the release of the Israeli captives and a cessation of this senseless destruction in Gaza. For once I'm hoping that a Trump initiative, the proposed peace plan will be realized.