A Season of Reflection, Renewal and Shelter

BY guest blogger, Harvey Goldberg

Beginning Friday night, September 11, with the beginning of Rosh Hashanah the Jewish communities enter a holiday season extending 23 days through October 4. Its themes of reflection, repentance and celebration speak directly to the work of Multifaith Housing Initiative.

Rosh Hashanah, observed from sunset on September 11 until nightfall on September 13, welcomes the year 5787. It begins the Ten Days of Repentance, concluding with Yom Kippur, from sunset on September 20 until nightfall on September 21. We reflect on our accomplishments and missteps and consider how to do better in the year ahead.

On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, we pray to be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life. But prayer alone cannot repair the wrongs we have done to others. We must seek forgiveness from those we have hurt, intentionally or unintentionally, and make sincere efforts to put things right.

There is a striking challenge at the heart of this day of fasting and prayer. In the morning’s reading, Isaiah challenges fasting accompanied by injustice, calling on us to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and free the oppressed. Our prayers must be matched by our deeds.

Succot follows, from sunset on September 25 through October 2. One of the three pilgrimage festivals, it brought Jews to the Temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the autumn harvest.

Traditionally, we build a temporary hut, a succah, recalling the Israelites’ shelter in the wilderness and G-d’s protection. By leaving our permanent homes to spend time in this fragile dwelling, we are reminded of our dependence on G-d and how precious secure shelter is

For those with secure homes, this experience is temporary. For others, uncertainty about shelter is a daily reality. MHI helps turn our gratitude into action. A safe, affordable home provides stability, dignity and belonging. Supporting this work helps others find the security we are fortunate to enjoy.

The season concludes with Shemini Atzeret, beginning October 2 at sunset, and Simchat Torah, from the evening of October 3 until nightfall on October 4. 

Simchat Torah, “Rejoicing in the Torah,” celebrates completing the annual Torah-reading cycle and beginning again with Genesis. Learning and renewal never end.

The Torah connects Judaism with Christianity and Islam, although each understands its authority differently. Its five books open the Christian Bible; the Qur’an honours the Torah revealed to Moses as containing “guidance and light.” These connections offer common ground for respect among the Abrahamic faiths.

​Jewish tradition calls the Torah a Tree of Life and describes its paths as peace. Through MHI, we bring our different traditions to the shared work of building a caring community.
Shanah tovah u’metukah!

Wishing you a good and sweet New Year, filled with health, happiness, and peace.

Closing quotation

“… Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the fetters of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
“Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” — Isaiah 58:6–7, Jewish Publication Society translation (1917)

A temporary dwelling, a lasting lesson: the succah reminds us how precious a secure home is.