Replacing the Oy with Joy: A Reverse Yizkor in the Sukkah

Yom Kippur is over, but I must confess nonetheless. I am sad today. I'm sitting in my Sukka alone. A Sukka needs tons of people and community. I imagine the walls crying. This is bad. But there is good here as well. Perhaps an opportunity to sneak in one more "Al Chet" as long as we are confessing already. "Al Chet" for the sin of taking one another for granted. "Al Chet" for not cherishing the gift of our communal bond more passionately. "Al Chet" for hating the things that we don't love about one another more than loving the things that we don't hate about each other.

So there, I've got that out of my system. Self-pity is not my jam. But I think I'll sneak in one more. "Al Chet" for the sin of being more aware of what feels wrong in our lives than what's right, for being more aware of what's painful than all the things that should and could be a source of profound happiness. It's Zman Simchatenu, the time of our rejoicing. We have to replace the OY with the JOY! Let's take a moment to meditate on the countless blessings in our lives. We can start with the biggest one of all. The fact that I can write this and you can read it (and if this message resonates, you can share it too!) is due only to the fact that we are alive! So Mazal Tov and Shehecheyanu for that!

So here's my little plan. When I dance with the Torah this chag, I will NOT be alone. I REFUSE to be alone. My plan is to picture every single person in this community and in my life...in my mind. I will raise a glass, not to each of you but to all of you :) and mentally register the goodness of your presence in my life. I ask you to take a moment over this Chag and lift a glass and do the same. Let this Yizkor be not only a tribute to the memory of those loved ones who have left this world, but also a reverse Yizkor where we actively imagine our loved ones who are alive, those that DO share THIS world with us. We can then meditatively send them our deepest love, blessings, and gratitude. Ahhh, the walls of my Sukka are smiling again!