Family Struggles to Prepare Sukkah Amid Financial Hardship Before Sukkot Holiday

As the Jewish holiday of Sukkot approaches, a family in the city of Elad faces significant financial challenges, leaving their sukkah incomplete. Aharon and his eight children built the sukkah's walls, but lack the "sukkah" (roof covering made of natural materials) and the funds to purchase the "Arba Minim" (four species) he promised his children. His wife, Riki, expressed deep distress over their dire financial situation, revealing that their small business collapsed two years ago, plunging them into debt and leaving them "on the brink of starvation."

Riki lamented the stark contrast between their current poverty and past holidays, when she could afford to prepare elaborate meals and buy new clothes for the children. Now, she struggles to afford even a simple chicken for the holiday week and cannot consider new clothing or personal luxuries. She shared that they are just one of thousands of families in Israel facing similar hardships.

The article connects their plight to a teaching from the Zohar, the foundational text of Kabbalah, which states that the "Ushpizin" (holy guests, representing biblical patriarchs) visit the sukkah during Sukkot to bestow blessings. However, their blessings are contingent upon the homeowner sharing their holiday joy with the poor and needy. The Zohar emphasizes that true enhancement of the mitzvah (commandment) is not just in the sukkah's decoration or holiday provisions, but in contributing to the less fortunate.

The article concludes with a call to action, urging readers to donate to "Va'ad Harabanim" (The Rabbis' Council) to help needy families and thereby merit the blessings of the Ushpizin, as promised by the Zohar. It suggests that a few extra shekels for the needy are more significant than elaborate sukkah decorations or holiday feasts.