Your Stock Portifolio and a Sukkah

The Sukkah hut is built outdoors under the starry sky with a roof made from cut branches or bamboo. This commemorates G-d's protective clouds when our ancestors left Egypt over 3,300 years ago and had to shlep through the shvitzy, hot desert.

The message of the Sukkah is that we should embrace and celebrate out vulnerability.  

Usually, we look at our roofs, our "secure" investments in gigantic & wealthy companies, and think we are safe and protected. The Sukkah helps us understand the reality, that all our mundane worldly blessings and infrastructure are truly flimsy security. If you base your self-worth on your material blessings you are in for a roller coaster of a ride. We must remind ourselves for a week out of each year that G-d is the only true protection that we can bank on.  

The age-old Jewish barometer of success should determine our self-worth. How much have I done today in fulfilling my mission of, "I was created to serve my Creator"? How dedicated have I been today to my family, love of friendship and in service to G-d?

The Hebrew word for 'secular' – chol -- also means 'sand.' Secularism is not bad. It is just like sand. It shifts and moves; it is swept by the sea and blown by the passing wind. It does not have roots. It is defined by its own existence, not anything beyond itself. Thus, when it is doing well, great! When it falls, it is difficult to rise.

Kodesh -- holiness -- means to be rooted. Kodesh is our connectedness to the past and our face turned to what is above. When I am defined exclusively by my own identity and my own success, then I am like sand: Today I am on top of the world; tomorrow I may be cast down. But when I have roots in something that is beyond my ego, when I recall that I am a servant of G-d at every moment of my life, that I am part of a larger story, then even when strong winds are blowing, my epicenter remains intact.