Celebrating the Jewish Holiday of SukkotOctober 5, 2020 at 3–4 p.m.

Sukkot is a week-long Jewish harvest holiday celebrated by building a sukkah, or booth, partly open to the sky. In Jewish tradition, the sukkah represents the temporary dwellings used while wandering in the wilderness after the biblical exodus from Egypt. Traditionally, Jews eat and sometimes even sleep in the sukkah during the holiday. On Tuesday, October 29, the Multifaith Leadership Council and friends will be setting up a sukkah in front of Uhler under the guidance of Dr. Samuel Kessler, Chair of Jewish Studies. Come be part of the project.

Look for these outdoor events to be held beside the sukkah:

On Friday, October 2, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., Dr. Marian Broida and members of the Multifaith Leadership Council will lead an opening celebration of Sukkot and Shabbat (Jewish Sabbath). There you will learn about another Sukkot ritual: shaking a bundle of branches and a lemon-like fruit (together called "the four species") in all directions.

On Thursday, October 1 and Monday, Oct 5, from 3-4 p.m., Multifaith Leadership Council members will lead interfaith dialogues outside the sukkah, open to all students.

Dr. Kessler is holding two discussion programs outside the sukkah.

On Tuesday, October 6 from 4-5 Dr. Kessler will be leading, "A Roof to Let the Rain In: A Conversation on Religion and Climate Change."

On Thursday, October 8 from 12:30-1:30 p.m, Dr. Kessler will be leading, "Open, Closed, #Cancelled: A Conversation About Religion and Freedom of Speech."

We will be staying six feet apart and wearing masks at each event.

Sukkot is a joyous holiday and a wonderful reminder of the beauties of nature. And because the sukkah is outdoors and open to the sky, it's a fantastic and safe way to learn about Judaism and interfaith engagement. We hope to see you in person at one of these events. Students are also invited to explore the sukkah individually between September 29 and October 11, when it will come down.