Author Recounts Lavish Sukkot Celebration at Wealthy Family's Estate

The author recounts an invitation to celebrate Sukkot at the home of a wealthy family, contrasting the opulence with his own everyday life. Upon arrival, he was met with a security detail and a list of guests, noting the surprise of the guard at his attire. He was ushered past multiple swimming pools, a pond with koi, a tennis court, stables, and kennels before reaching the sukkah, which was significantly larger than his own apartment.

The sukkah itself was adorned with branches, interspersed with what he was told were real diamonds, though he also spotted a surveillance camera. The table was laden with silver, prompting the author to reflect on his anxieties about money, people, and global warming, which he believes could make sukkah living impossible.

He met the host, who mistook him for someone else and expressed a desire to meet him. During the meal, the author was served black caviar from a specially bred kosher fish, prompting him to joke that their ancestors likely suffered more from a lack of good restaurants than from hunger during their desert wanderings.

The host's younger son questioned why they were eating in the sukkah when a dining room was available. The father explained it was to remember that nothing is permanent, even a home. The author found the response 'eat your soup' to be the best answer to philosophical questions, as it redirects focus to immediate needs.

The host detailed the logistical challenges of preparing the sukkah, including carpentry errors, design issues, and delivery delays. The author felt a pang of awkwardness, realizing his own perceived hardships paled in comparison to the biblical Exodus. The evening concluded with a light rain, with a few drops falling through the sukkah's roof, prompting laughter from children and a moment of quiet reflection for the author.