Sukkot Resources: Cultivating Joy in Precarious Times
Spiritual care & Jewish wisdom for a new year of climate action
🌿 Sukkot | Fragility, Joy, and Interdependence
During Sukkot, Jews around the world build and dwell in sukkot — temporary shelters open to the elements and decorated with symbols of a joyous harvest. Spending time in the sukkah reminds us not only of our connection to and interdependence with all life and the seasonal cycles, but also of the vulnerability of all human life in the face of climate chaos and ecological instability.
Those who have experienced displacement, been forced to migrate, or been unhoused due to climate-driven extreme weather know this feeling all too well.
Yet, another name for Sukkot is Zman Simchateinu – the Time of Our Rejoicing. We take joy in gathering, blessing, and shaking the lulav and etrog – four water-loving species – as we pray for a new year of abundance and nourishment for our human communities, for the land, and for all life.
Sukkot challenges us to cultivate joy, gratitude, and resilience even and especially in the midst of precarious times, as we dwell in a temporary shelter. One more mitzvah (sacred practice and obligation) of Sukkot is to welcome Ushpizin – honored guests. We practice this through dedicating each night of Sukkot to different powerful and courageous ancestors – remembering their stories and drawing strength from their examples – and inviting in guests to share the joy of the holiday. Sukkot reminds us of our interdependence and calls us to build resilience together, ensuring safe shelter, food, and flourishing for all in a changing climate.
✨ Together, this High Holiday season invites us to connect Jewish spiritual practice with climate activism: awakening to possibility; turning toward right-relationship with ourselves, the sacred, and each other; and embodying resilience and joy as we build a just and livable future.
📚 RESOURCES
Build Your Own Paper Sukkah
As Jewish communities celebrate Sukkot by spending time in fragile sukkah dwellings, we are reminded of those who experience unstable living conditions year-round.
- Climate Torah: Cultivate Courage & Face Fear: A Rooted & Rising Climate Torah resource for Sukkot.
- A DIY Guide to Gathering Local “Lulav & Etrog” Four Species for Sukkot from Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman.
- A GOTV Playlist! Sukkot is Get Out the Vote season. Gather in a sukkah and phonebank climate-concerned voters for important elections with Dayenu through Chutzpah 2025.
Click here to browse our entire catalog of campaigns and organizing, spiritual adaptation, holiday and torah resources.
🔥 Take Action with Dayenu
Awaken to a New Year of Climate Justice. Sukkot calls us to cultivate joy even in vulnerable times — to envision the world we want and take steps to bring it to life. Just as the shofar awakens us to renewal and responsibility, we can awaken our communities and leaders to the urgency of the climate crisis.
1. Get out the climate vote with Chutzpah 2025: Sign up for spirited phonebanking with other volunteers.
2. Build your own paper sukkah (or full sized one!). Then share a photo or video to amplify the call for climate action and tag us on social.
3. Browse current opportunities to take action.