Sukkot 2025: A Time to Harvest Our Life Experience: The Simchat Chochmah
An invitation to create your own blessing of gratitude for having reached a milestone in life
Sukkot: A Time to Harvest Our Life Experience: The Simchat Chochmah
Sukkot, the festival that greets us now, is called “z’man simchateinu”: a time of joy, of celebration. The symbols of Lulav, Etrog combine to carry on the theme expressed by the Sukkah itself: that of life’s fragility and, in any ways, its’ temporality. As we get older these themes become more meaningful. As many of you know, the festival is tied to the meaning of harvest. I think that this theme speaks volumes to us as it is if the tradition is asking us to consider what we may wish to harvest from the journey of our life? Maybe this Sukkot festival we can reflect on what has, and we hope, continues to bring us joy. It is joy that we seem to need more of given the seriousness of life now.
There is a rarely used ritual within modern Jewish life that I think would fit in perfectly to this festival. We have written in the past on the Simchat Chochmah ritual, a blessing or meditation on the joy of wisdom, wisdom usually being reflected as having lived a long and meaningful life. The origins of the ritual stem from the Jewish Feminist movement, however, it has evolved over the years to the point where some men and women create, often with their rabbi, a reading or meditation that at times is read at a service. The ritual is usually tied to a significant birthday. We have posted a few on this site and we plan to feature more in a special Simchat Chochmah section. Last year a small group of congregants at Congregation Kol Ami in Cherry Hill, N.J. created their own rituals and a few of those individuals have given us permission to post their meditations. We invite you to consider celebrating Sukkot by creating your own Simchat Chochmah. If you wish to share it with our community, feel free to send it to me at RabbiAddress@JewishSacredAging.com.
The ritual is very personal. It is not an Ethical Will, but rather a personal reflection on having reached a milestone moment and what one is thankful for, in essence, what you are harvesting! To begin this “harvest”, allow us to share the “Prayer of Thanksgiving on My 80th Birthday”, composed by Dr. Philip Glass.
Blessed are You, Eternal One, source of life and sustainer of all creation.
With a heart full of gratitude, I stand before You, reflecting on the journey of these 80 years.
You have guided my steps through joy and sorrow, through laughter and tears,
Through moments of strength and times of challenge.
You have granted me wisdom, love, and the blessing of years.
I thank You for the family and friends who have walked beside me,
For the lessons learned and the kindness received,
For the memories etched in my soul and for the days still to come.
As I embrace this sacred milestone, may I continue to be a source of wisdom, kindness and faith.
Grant me health, peace, and the strength to share my blessings with others.
Baruch Atah Adonai, Elohahai v”Elohei Avotai
Sh’hecheyani, v’kiyamani v’higiani la’zman hazeh
Blessed are You, Lord my God and God of my ancestors, who has granted me life, sustained me and brought me to this moment.
Chag Sukkot Sameach. Moadim L’Simcha
Rabbi Richard F. Address