Cole Kovensky - Dvar Torah

My Torah portion is read during the festival of Sukkot. In it, we learn about the calendar of the Jewish year and how the Jewish festivals are connected to the seasons.

Pesach is connected to the Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, Shavuot to Summer, and Sukkot--my portion--is connected to Autumn, which is harvest time.

And since we`re talking about harvest, it's important to also talk about the farming of the land that leads to that harvest, and the lessons we can learn from it.

From farming, we learn about patience - you can't get everything on the first day. You have to plant, water, nurture, and wait. 

It teaches survival, and also not to be afraid to get your hands dirty. 

We also learn that hard work brings results, and that not everything is about you - it's about working together, building community, and learning from each other. 

Farming also teaches resilience-- when challenges come, we can't give up.

Once we 've put in all the hard work, we get to reap the rewards and, most importantly. share them to make other people happy.

These lessons guided me on my mitzvah project, which was to support the wonderful organization Super Troopers, who help the homeless - some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

I followed the stages of farming in my project: 

⁃ First, I planted the seed with the idea to collect toiletries, clothing, and food. 

⁃ Then, I worked with my community to help the idea grow. 

- Finally, I "harvested" by collecting all of those items, and had the joy of distributing them to people in need.

Like a farmer celebrating the joy of a harvest, I experienced the joy of giving -- of knowing that my hard work made a difference.

Through this mitzvah project and the study of my portion, I've learned lessons I will carry with me as I go from being a boy to becoming a Bar Mitzvah: 

Patience . Hard work . Community . Never giving up .  And Tzedakah

These are lessons I hope to live by always.

Shabbat Shalom.