Sukkot Gratitude
by Amy Deutsch, ARS Director
I am so happy to be guest-writing a blog post for the amazing TCEE community – many of you know me as the co-leader of Tot Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services with our amazing Music Educator Josh Cohen, but when I’m not doing that, I’m the director of ARS, the Ansin Religious School which meets on Tuesday afternoons. I’ve been in the field of Jewish education for over 20 years, teaching in religious school and preschool settings and serving as assistant editor for Kveller.com, the Jewish parenting website. I love the privilege of getting to write for and work with parents as they navigate raising their children.
We’re currently in the midst of the holiday of Sukkot – and I really enjoyed spending Tuesday morning with the TCEE community at the TCEE Sukkot Breakfast, where I helped kids and their grown-ups to shake the lulav and etrog in the Sukkah.
Sukkot is a holiday full of symbolism. We build temporary huts (a sukkah) where we are commanded to “dwell” all week (to eat and even sleep in a sukkah!) which helps us to be so grateful for our permanent homes that we dwell in during the rest of the year. We shake the arbah minim/four species: lulav (palm, willow, and myrtle branches tied together) and etrog – in all directions, representing how God surrounds us with love. The smell of the etrog is sweeter than any lemon you’ve ever encountered – like I told lots of the TCEE kids on Tuesday, one of my favorite things about Sukkot is the lingering smell of the etrog on my hands. And Sukkot is z’man simchateinu – the time of our joy – where we are commanded to be happy, and grateful for what we have.
Well, I have felt so grateful this holiday season. Leading services with Josh for this community was such a privilege. We had so much fun and we were so inspired by all of you and your kids – who are amazing dancers, by the way. Being with all of you at the TCEE Sukkot Breakfast on Tuesday was also so special – the looks on the littlest ones’ faces as they felt the bumpy etrog, or heard the sound of the lulav shaking – what a gift!
One of the songs that Josh and I love to sing with the kids is called Thank You God, by Doug Cotler, where we list all of the things we’re grateful for, and then repeat “Baruch Atah Adonai, Thank You God.” We also always ask for shout-outs – for kids to add their own gratitudes to our song. And they are often grateful for the things that may seem small to us, but are their whole world: their new toy, their teachers, or chocolate ice cream. And then sometimes, they leave us breathless – they’re grateful for their new baby sibling, or they’re grateful for singing with us, or they’re grateful that their loved one isn’t sick anymore. Kids are so good at naming gratitude. They’re excellent at that part of Sukkot!
I went into the field of Jewish education because I was inspired to pass along the beauty and wisdom of Jewish tradition to the next generation, and I feel so grateful to be here with all of you in this incredible community. I hope to get to see many of you on Tuesday evening, 10/14/25, to celebrate Simchat Torah – the final holiday in this season – where we are grateful for Torah, for learning, and for education overall. Chag sameach/wishing you the happiest – and most grateful – of holidays.
