In her deeply personal reflection, a Jewish woman from Asheville, North Carolina, wrestled with the decision to build a sukkah after Hurricane Helene devastated her city. The sukkah—a temporary dwelling built during the festival of Sukkot—is a symbol of protection, community, and God's presence. Yet, standing amidst fallen trees and damaged homes, she felt it was inappropriate to engage in a symbolic act when so many were facing immediate, real-world needs. She writes, "I couldn’t possibly go buy building materials for a temporary, symbolic dwelling when people desperately need those building materials to repair their actual homes."

The emotional and spiritual tension she described raises a question for all of us, especially as Modern-Day Esthers: What does faith look like in the face of disaster? This struggle between honoring tradition and addressing practical needs resonates beyond just the Jewish community. We, as Christians, may also find ourselves questioning...