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According to one Oregon State University study, over 50% of adults are clinically lonely[1], and this trend seems to be growing. Loneliness is so concerning that in 2023, the Surgeon General declared there was an Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation. Why are we the most connected generation in history, and yet so lonely and spiritually empty?
It may seem shocking that we are in an epidemic of loneliness, because we have more ways to connect than ever before. In our pockets are devices that allow us to instantly communicate with almost anyone we want around the world. Yet we are more isolated. No matter how much we text or post on social media, it does not seem to fill our needs for connection with other people or with our Creator. In fact, studies show the opposite: the more you post or check social media, the less happy and lonelier you likely are.
Our problem is that we have endless digital connections but few shared experiences. Our digital lives are shallow, producing loneliness, not life. Now this may sound shocking coming from the “Tech Rabbi”, who spends a whole lot of time on his computer, but we need to spend time face-to-face with people. We need to intentionally set aside time to exist with others, to share life together with them.
We all crave community, but we do not commit the energy and time necessary to create it. We tell ourselves, “I should see that person” or “I should call this person,” but rarely do so. However, we find time for social media and other diversions instead. The trap of digital life is that it allows us to be isolated and entertained but not grow in a meaningful way. Now it is easy to point out a problem; it is much harder to offer a solution. But Sukkot and the sukkah offer us a solution to our modern crisis.
God designed the Sukkah as a temporary dwelling that creates permanent memories through physical experiences, creating moments that connect us to each other and to Him. We read in Leviticus 23:42-43:
You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”
Notice that verse 42 tells us to dwell, to live, in the Sukkah. The Sukkah is meant to be experienced physically. We cannot truly understand the Sukkah through an AI video, through a 3D model, or through a drive-thru Sukkah. We experience life through our senses; the more senses involved in an experience, the stronger it is tied to our memories. The scent of the etrog, the feeling of it being a little too cold in the Sukkah and wishing it had better insulation, the sight of the stars and clouds through its roof, all of these create real moments and memories.
Sukkot is a holiday all about relationships. As we build the Sukkah, we connect to one another. Spending time in the Sukkah also builds our relationship with the Lord. We see that we are all connected. Connected to generations going back to the wilderness and connected to the Lord who has protected, guided, and led us in every generation.
This is all intentional by the Lord, who states in the second verse that the Sukkah is so we can learn, we can truly know what He did for our people back in Egypt. Like the Seder, the Sukkah is a tool to share a memory, an experience from one generation to the next. The irony is that a temporary, flimsy structure like the Sukkah creates permanent memories and has a deep spiritual impact.
The Sukkah looks back in time, but it is also a new experience every year, a new experience for every generation. Each year, when we build and spend time in a Sukkah, we create real memories through a shared physical experience. It’s possible to watch great videos on YouTube about Sukkot. In fact, there are great videos on Passover and other events. But seeing something on a screen is very different than experiencing it for yourself. There is something very tangible, something heavy and real, when you boo Haman during Purim, eat horseradish during Passover, and go inside a Sukkah.
The Lord commanded our people to build Sukkahs, and while this commandment is not binding today, the principle is still worth embracing. The principle of creating physical experiences that connect us to one another while we remove barriers that separate us from the Lord. As human beings, we are designed to learn through experience. We also learn in community by living life together.
So, we need to spend time with people physically in our congregations. The solution for our epidemic of loneliness is to create real connections and relationships. At Shema, we have many different activities going on throughout the year, and “unofficial” moments happen as well. People get together for lunch after services or home Bible studies.
I am sure you can remember when you first started coming to Shema or when you first became a believer. Meeting new people and having your life changed can feel very overwhelming. By opening our lives and homes appropriately to others, we not only honor the Lord but also receive the blessings that come from being in fellowship. We find the answer to the loneliness that plagues our world. I encourage you to spend time with people here at Shema and to be willing to expand your circle appropriately as newer people become part of our congregation.
It can seem difficult to spend more time with people. Many barriers stop our intentions from becoming actions. But it becomes easier when we remove the barriers in our lives. Some barriers that can stop us from meaningful connections are anxiety and fear. There are many reasons why we might be dealing with anxiety and fear, but some of our choices can strengthen these walls in our lives. Social media and the news are designed to boost these issues. We must control the time we invest in these areas and replace these habits with ones that enrich our lives. If we are using our phones as a replacement for genuine human interaction, we need to stop this as well.
The world searches for answers to the problems of life in a fallen world in all the wrong places. The world’s answers cannot help or save us. Part of the Good News of Messiah Yeshua is how He restores our relationships. He restores our relationship with the Lord and restores our relationships with one another.
When people ask us what it is like to be a Disciple of the Lord, we should hopefully be able to tell them that it involves being part of a healthy and loving community. We love being at our congregation because some of our favorite people are here. Close friends, people who are like family to us. Genuine community is rare in this world, and the Lord uses it to draw people in.
My hope is that all of us will spend some time lingering in the Sukkah this Shabbat and every day. Spending time intentionally focused on our relationships with one another and the Lord. If we do, I know that our lives will become richer, more connected, and much less lonely.
May the Lord dwell with us every day of our lives. May we as a community be willing to live life together. May we all look forward to the day when the Lord will be with us in the New Jerusalem forever and ever.
[1] https://health.oregonstate.edu/news-and-stories/2025-10/loneliness-us-adults-linked-amount-frequency-social-media-use