There are many holidays in the Jewish Calendar that I find special, but in terms of religion in the home, none are as important as Sukkot or "The Feast of Booths." In Biblical times, during the autumn harvest when the moon is brightest in the sky, the Lord commands His Chosen People to build booths at the edge of their fields. In these booths, the Israelite men would take all of their meals and naps in a sukkah (a three sided booth) so that they may watch over their fields during the harvest time.
Today, it is customary among Jews to build a sukkah in their yards to commemorate this important time of the year. It is large enough for tables and chairs for meals, decorated with art and the fruits of Israel, and thatched so that you can see the stars from the inside of the booth. I see it as the Jewish version of Thanksgiving.
During this period of 8 days, it is important to invite guests into the sukkah to join the family for meals, rest, and study. This seems easy enough. But Judaism has a way of making even the most mundane task into a spiritual endeavor. Seven patriarchs of the Jewish people are invited to join in the feast in order to bring their virtues into the home and touch the lives of all those within.
However, with the women's liberation movement, gender equality, and the traditional roles of women keeping the religious flames in the home, many Jewish women (and men) invite seven matriarchs of Israel into the sukkah to bring their special traits to the women of the household. We call these spiritual female guests Ushpizot. The seven Ushipzot in Judaism are Eve, Sarah, Leah, Miriam, Deborah, Esther, and Ruth. Just as Jewish lineage is passed on through the mother, without these important women, the Israelites would have never become the powerful nation that G-d promised to Abraham.
So, what aspects of spirituality are brought forth through these women? Let us take a brief look:
1- Eve, mother of all = passion and a deep connection to the earth
2- Sarah, wife of Abraham = nation-building and destiny
3- Leah, first wife of Jacob = motherhood, giving, and selflessness
4- Miriam, sister of Abraham and a prophetess = prophetic vision, initiative, and expressiveness
5- Deborah, judge of Israel = leadership, strength, and power
6- Esther, Jewish queen of Persia = courage, strength, and personal sacrifice
7- Ruth, daughter-in-law of Naomi = unconditional love and the ultimate expression of the Diving presence
As a liberated woman, I wish to possess all of these spiritual traits. Who would not want that for their daughters, sisters, mothers, nieces, etc.? Each of these traits brings us closer to the Lord, our family, our community, and our own Divine spark. Without these spiritual matriarchs, would we even have the Judeo-Christian society in which we live?
So, in honor of the Ushpizot, I would encourage you to take the time to honor at least one virtuous woman for the next two weeks. We need to keep their memory alive to pass on to the next generation. Perhaps these feminine virtues will ignite your inner flame and brighten the world for millenia to come.
