The story of that sukkah
Indeed is legendary
And mostly all the older folks
Say it’s imaginary
Yet everyone who passes it
Is filled with Jewish pride
But no one for a century
Has dared to step inside
The legend as they tell it
Goes back so many years
When Jews in that old shtetel
Had lived entrenched in fears
The Cossacks they were coming
Or was it the Crusades?
Perhaps it was the Communists
Or maybe Nazi raids
They chased Jews through the forest
From their tiny shtut
They ran until they found refuge
Inside the sukkah hut
And then they were surrounded
The fiends beat on the door
But no it would not open
They pounded more and more
The Yidden, they were petrified
All huddled inside
Indeed they were surrounded
They had no place to hide
And suddenly among them
A man said, “Don’t be glum”
He threw some sand like arrows
Just as Avrohom
Then our father Yitzchok
His eyes pierced through the cracks
And suddenly the enemies
In fear ceased their attacks
And Yaakov lifted his large stick
That split Yardein in two
And when the Cossacks saw it
They ran from that old Jew
And Moshe, Aharon, Shlomo
Embraced those who were there
“My children, we’re your humble guests
You have nothing to fear”
And Dovid raised his slingshot
That smote the Philistine
The enemies they scattered
And never were they seen
I know it sounds amazing
You think it is not true
But that’s the story that I heard
From a very ancient Jew
Somehow we defied them
In that sukkah oh so frail
That seems so awfully vulnerable
At least so goes the tale
But it is not a fable
Indeed the tale is true
Ushpizin, I know, are more than guests
They’re here for every Jew
For they’re inside
Protecting us
Our special holy guests
Who stand by to support us
From life’s demanding tests
So glean your strength from Avrohom
And all who come to stay
Inside our holy sukkos
On every night and day
As for the sukkah of the tale
I’m not sure if it’s true
But that they’re there
Within those walls
Believe it! Yes, I do!
