Our lives in the west today are often over complicated.

Rabbi J Wittenberg (BBC Radio 4, 25 Sept. 2007)

Some people love DIY; others hate it. I've always loved it, which is just as well, because Jewish people are now busy building their Sukkahs in preparation for the festival of Tabernacles which begins on Wednesday night.

A Sukkah is a small hut. The walls can be constructed from anything, but the roof must be made of leaves and branches, spread thickly enough to make it shady inside. During the week of Tabernacles we're supposed to eat our meals in the Succah, and even to sleep there - if the great British weather permits.

The Sukkah simplifies us. Our lives in the west today are often over complicated, full of possessions and issues. We need too much and consume too much, trends encouraged by our market driven society. The small Sukkah, with its covering of leaves and decorations of fruits and vegetables, reminds us of what truly matters.

This summer I walked for several days with donkeys in the Pyrennees. The man who arranges the treks, which are quite challenging, has a remarkable vision. He himself travels with his family for months each year with no more possessions than a donkey can carry. "I like to start with little", he says, "and finish with less. My riches are the people I meet on the way."

The Sukkah, too, focusses us on our real wealth: human companionship, thankfulness for food and shelter. It sharpens our concern for those who lack even these necessities. It teaches us not to get lost in our own too much.

God, help us to remember what truly matters: the basic everyday needs of all people, human companionship and a respectful and grateful relationship with creation.

Jonathan Wittenberg

Jonathan Wittenberg was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and moved to London as a small boy. After studying literature at Cambridge, he was ordained as a rabbi and has been a leader in the development of the Masorti movement for traditional, non-fundamentalist Judaism. He is currently serves as rabbi of New North London Synagogue. His other publications include Three Pillars of Judaism: A Search for Faith and Values and The Laws of Life: A Guide to Traditional Jewish Practice at Times of Bereavement . Jonathan Wittenberg is married to Nicola Solomon, a lawyer, and they live in London with their three children and dog.

    (source of biographical information: Aviv Press)