Sukkot is Zeman Simchateinu, the time of our joy. The harvest gathered in, the Israelites gathered on Mount Zion to give thanks. On the second night of Sukkot, there was a special ceremony, the water drawing ceremony. It is said that “he who has not seen a Simchat Beit Hashoeva celebration has never seen a really joyous celebration at all”. Water was a critical need in the desert climate of Israel. As soon as Sukkot was over the prayers for rain would be added.

This year I am acutely aware of those who lack clean drinking water, adequate food and unsafe housing. This year I am not building my own sukkah. That only happened one other time in my married life. I am waiting for a house to close.

That house is owned by Fannie Mae and should close soon–but not before the holiday is over. So Simon and I are living in temporary housing, a studio apartment at the Marriott TownePlace Suites. It is like yuppie camping. We have a roof over our heads, air conditioning, a galley kitchen with full fridge, stove, microwave and dishwasher. We have a bed, maid service, continental breakfast and they provide cookies for the adults and dog treats every day at 4PM. What more does anyone need?

Maslow said that needs are based on a pyramid.

What this means is that physiological needs, food, water, shelter, need to be met before all others. Safety, including that of having a safe home, come next. The need for love, friendship family as so on, eventually leading to self-actualization. What I take from this is that unless your need for food, shelter, water, clothing, housing are met, you cannot experience full joy. You need to feel secure and safe before you experience true joy. You need to know you are loved to experience full joy. You need to know you belong, have a good self-esteem, and have confidence. You may have moments of joy, but they are harder to sustain.

I am in temporary housing by choice. I believe that I will be in my own home soon. But what of the millions of Americans because of the downturn in the economy are not. What of the people who are living here at the hotel, who get up every morning, get their kids to the school bus, go to work and are living here on a near permanent basis. What of the women and children at the Community Crisis Center who left abusive relationships and need the support of the Crisis Center until they can build back up their self-esteem? What about Daniel? Daniel is a young boy whose parents apparently divorced, forcing the house we will own into foreclosure. In the basement of the house on the dry wall are the markings on the wall in black crayon of how tall Daniel was. It is clear from this simple act that Daniel was loved. Where is he now? Does he have food, clothing, shelter? Does he get to experience joy?

There are many reasons why there are so many foreclosures on the market. Some of it has to do with poor federal lending policies. Some of it has to do with predatory mortgage companies that let people buy more house than they could afford. But more it has to do  with the huge economic downturn. If you don’t have a job, you can’t pay your mortgage. It is that simple. Many Americans are one pay check away from homelessness. This was true in the 1980s when I first started working on these issues and it is more true today.

Some of it has to do with healthcare. Again, if you don’t have health insurance and you suffer a major health issue, lose a job because of it or have mounting medical bills, you cannot sustain your mortgage. Some people are forced to make unbelievably difficult choices: heat or medicine, food or shelter. Many of the people effected by the economic downturn are good people. They need the safety and security of being in a good home. I have learned first hand too much about the underbelly of this housing beast this summer.

Our tradition has a prayer that includes the phrase, “Ufros Aleinu Sukkat Shlomecha.” Spread over us the shelter of Your peace, the sukkah of Your peace. It recognizes what we have long known. Shelter is fragile. It can blow over in a big wind or knocked out from under you. It can be elusive and temporary. Peace is fragile. Nighttime can be an scary time, especially if you need to choose to live under a bridge, in your car, or in temporary shelter.  I am grateful and lucky to have a roof over my head, especially on these rainy nights of Sukkot.

Jews have another prayer that we say every morning, “Ma tovu ohalecha Ya’akov mishkenotecha Yisrael. How good are your tents, O Jacob; your dwelling places O Israel.” This blessing, penned by a non-Jewish prophet, goes on to describe the wish to dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of our lives.  For Jacob, at one point his house was a piece of ground and his pillow was a rock, and he dreamed of a ladder with angels ascending and descending.

I am grateful for organizations like the Community Crisis Center, PADS, Habitat for Humanity that help provide safe, secure, peaceful shelter. I am grateful to an organization like Hyperion Homes, my funding agent, that saw a need and figured out a way to get good people back into homes.  I am grateful to organizations like Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership, Merrimack Valley Project, Fox Valley Initiative and the Coalition of Elgin Religious Leaders who work tirelessly to fix the underlying systemic issues that cause homelessness. That is true Tikkun Olam, fixing, repairing the world.

I have a bottle of champagne on ice, ready to celebrate my new home.  On Monday, my day off,  I hope to be working on a Habitat for Humanity project as my way to work so that instead of temporary housing people have real, permanent, safe secure housing. For me, that is when the real joy of Sukkot will come. When everyone can sit under their own vine and fig tree and none shall make them afraid.