It feels harder than ever to bring people together. We live in a world that constantly reminds us of what the other person has that we don’t, what they believe that we don’t, and what separates “us” from “them.” We are divided by opinions, backgrounds, politics, religious observance, and countless labels. Sometimes even within the Jewish community, we can focus so much on our differences that we forget how much we share. So how do we overcome this? How do we create real unity without pretending that we are all the same?
The answer lies in the beauty of Sukkot, which we begin celebrating tonight. One of the holiday's central mitzvot is taking the Four Kinds: the etrog, lulav, hadassim, and aravot. Our sages explain that each represents a different kind of Jew, with different strengths, different levels of knowledge and observance, and different ways of connecting to G-d. Judaism doesn’t ask the etrog to become a lulav or the lulav to become an etrog. We bring them together precisely because they are different. Unity doesn’t mean uniformity. It means recognizing that each of us has something unique to contribute, and that we are stronger when we stand together.
Of course, that is easier said than done. It can be difficult to look past another person’s differences, their choices, or the things about them we may not understand, and instead see the beauty they possess and the positive quality they bring. The Sukkah itself carries the answer to this challenge and helps us move forward. The Sukkah doesn’t ask who you are before allowing you inside. Its walls surround everyone equally: the scholar and the beginner, the deeply observant and the Jew just beginning to explore, the young and the old. By bringing us all under one roof, the sukkah helps us move beyond the differences that can distract us and reminds us to see the spark, the goodness, and the value in every Jew. Perhaps that is the secret to bringing people together: build a structure of love that embraces everyone equally.
That is exactly what we are building with our new Chabad Chai Center. I think of it as our year-round sukkah, a hub for Jewish life where every Jew, every person, is warmly welcomed and loved exactly as they are. A place where Judaism thrives because we share it joyfully. A place where children, teens, young professionals, families, and seniors can each learn and grow at their own pace. We don’t have to be the same. We need a place that brings us together, reminds us we belong to one another, and empowers each of us to take another step forward.
This Sukkot, I invite you to help us build that sukkah together. Our goal is to bring our new Chabad Chai Center, our new home and hub for Jewish life, to reality this December, and every one of YOU can have a part in making that happen. Whatever your ability, whatever your level of participation, there is room for you in this sukkah. Join us, participate however you can, and help us build a Jewish home that will unite our community for generations to come. Visit www.chabadchaicenter.com/FUTURE and build your future. Many people. One community. One sukkah. One Jewish future.