By RABBI JOSEPH H. PROUSER<\/p>\n
<\/noscript><\/a>Many congregations conducted this year\u2019s High Holiday services under open-walled tents: a wise health and safety precaution in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a chaplain serving the Boy Scouts of America, I conducted countless outdoor services under canvas. This year\u2019s Holidays \u2013 so very different from years past \u2013 thus nevertheless had a comforting familiarity!<\/p>\nTents have an honored place in Jewish history.<\/p>\nAbraham and Sarah launched our religious tradition by generously welcoming angelic guests to their tent, said to have been open on all four sides (Genesis<\/em> 18)!<\/p>\nThe \u201cTent of Meeting\u201d served our ancestors of the Wilderness Period as the center of Israelite community and ritual (Exodus<\/em> 28:43, etc.).<\/p>\nWe cite the prophet Balaam\u2019s blessing of the Jewish People \u2013 \u201cHow goodly are your Tents!\u201d (Numbers<\/em> 24:5) \u2013 as a liturgical welcome to our own places of worship.<\/p>\nIn defining worthy and righteous living, the Psalmist asks, \u201cLord, who will dwell in Your Tent? …Those who live with integrity, do what is right, and speak the truth that is in their hearts\u201d (Psalms 15:1).<\/p>\nThe tents used for recent Holiday worship \u2013 like the traditional ad hoc<\/em> structures which give the approaching Festival of Succot its name \u2013 are a sacred, urgent, and dramatic reminder to consider:<\/p>\nWhat is but temporary and transient…<\/p>\n…and what is truly eternal?<\/p>\n(Rabbi Joseph H. Prouser is the rabbi of Temple Emanuel of North Jersey and the former National Chaplain of the National Jewish Committee on Scouting.)<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/noscript><\/a>
Tents have an honored place in Jewish history.<\/p>\n
Abraham and Sarah launched our religious tradition by generously welcoming angelic guests to their tent, said to have been open on all four sides (Genesis<\/em> 18)!<\/p>\nThe \u201cTent of Meeting\u201d served our ancestors of the Wilderness Period as the center of Israelite community and ritual (Exodus<\/em> 28:43, etc.).<\/p>\nWe cite the prophet Balaam\u2019s blessing of the Jewish People \u2013 \u201cHow goodly are your Tents!\u201d (Numbers<\/em> 24:5) \u2013 as a liturgical welcome to our own places of worship.<\/p>\nIn defining worthy and righteous living, the Psalmist asks, \u201cLord, who will dwell in Your Tent? …Those who live with integrity, do what is right, and speak the truth that is in their hearts\u201d (Psalms 15:1).<\/p>\nThe tents used for recent Holiday worship \u2013 like the traditional ad hoc<\/em> structures which give the approaching Festival of Succot its name \u2013 are a sacred, urgent, and dramatic reminder to consider:<\/p>\nWhat is but temporary and transient…<\/p>\n…and what is truly eternal?<\/p>\n(Rabbi Joseph H. Prouser is the rabbi of Temple Emanuel of North Jersey and the former National Chaplain of the National Jewish Committee on Scouting.)<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/noscript><\/a>
The \u201cTent of Meeting\u201d served our ancestors of the Wilderness Period as the center of Israelite community and ritual (Exodus<\/em> 28:43, etc.).<\/p>\nWe cite the prophet Balaam\u2019s blessing of the Jewish People \u2013 \u201cHow goodly are your Tents!\u201d (Numbers<\/em> 24:5) \u2013 as a liturgical welcome to our own places of worship.<\/p>\nIn defining worthy and righteous living, the Psalmist asks, \u201cLord, who will dwell in Your Tent? …Those who live with integrity, do what is right, and speak the truth that is in their hearts\u201d (Psalms 15:1).<\/p>\nThe tents used for recent Holiday worship \u2013 like the traditional ad hoc<\/em> structures which give the approaching Festival of Succot its name \u2013 are a sacred, urgent, and dramatic reminder to consider:<\/p>\nWhat is but temporary and transient…<\/p>\n…and what is truly eternal?<\/p>\n(Rabbi Joseph H. Prouser is the rabbi of Temple Emanuel of North Jersey and the former National Chaplain of the National Jewish Committee on Scouting.)<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/noscript><\/a>
We cite the prophet Balaam\u2019s blessing of the Jewish People \u2013 \u201cHow goodly are your Tents!\u201d (Numbers<\/em> 24:5) \u2013 as a liturgical welcome to our own places of worship.<\/p>\nIn defining worthy and righteous living, the Psalmist asks, \u201cLord, who will dwell in Your Tent? …Those who live with integrity, do what is right, and speak the truth that is in their hearts\u201d (Psalms 15:1).<\/p>\nThe tents used for recent Holiday worship \u2013 like the traditional ad hoc<\/em> structures which give the approaching Festival of Succot its name \u2013 are a sacred, urgent, and dramatic reminder to consider:<\/p>\nWhat is but temporary and transient…<\/p>\n…and what is truly eternal?<\/p>\n(Rabbi Joseph H. Prouser is the rabbi of Temple Emanuel of North Jersey and the former National Chaplain of the National Jewish Committee on Scouting.)<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/noscript><\/a>
In defining worthy and righteous living, the Psalmist asks, \u201cLord, who will dwell in Your Tent? …Those who live with integrity, do what is right, and speak the truth that is in their hearts\u201d (Psalms 15:1).<\/p>\n
The tents used for recent Holiday worship \u2013 like the traditional ad hoc<\/em> structures which give the approaching Festival of Succot its name \u2013 are a sacred, urgent, and dramatic reminder to consider:<\/p>\nWhat is but temporary and transient…<\/p>\n…and what is truly eternal?<\/p>\n(Rabbi Joseph H. Prouser is the rabbi of Temple Emanuel of North Jersey and the former National Chaplain of the National Jewish Committee on Scouting.)<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/noscript><\/a>
What is but temporary and transient…<\/p>\n
…and what is truly eternal?<\/p>\n
(Rabbi Joseph H. Prouser is the rabbi of Temple Emanuel of North Jersey and the former National Chaplain of the National Jewish Committee on Scouting.)<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/noscript><\/a>
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