Many cultures celebrate the fall harvest. In Jewish tradition this celebration is called Sukkot (su-kote) and it lasts for one week. Sukkot, plural for sukkah, is the Hebrew word meaning booths or huts. In ancient times a sukkah was used in the fields during the harvest season to serve as a source of shade.

Today, Sukkot is celebrated by building a temporary shelter that symbolizes these huts as well as the structures the Israelites built during their forty years wandering the desert. Rabbi Michele Medwin explained to the students at The Family School that the sukkah acts as constant reminder that God protected the Israelites during their troubles and still watches over us today.

The maintenance department built the outline of a structure for the students to use during the Sukkot celebration on campus. Completing it was left up to the students.

On October 7 the students gathered in the gym and listened to Rabbi Michele explain the significance of the holiday. They then created banners and gratitude chains that would be used for the sides of the structure. They worked on these for the next hour and then all met at the sukkah eager to decorate. “It was exciting to see the transformation happen,” said student Tyler M.

Once all the decorations were complete everyone gathered inside. Rabbi Michele gave each group a chance to present their banners. Many students incorporated their favorite psalms and also followed the theme of Sukkot, gratitude.

Unfortunately, due to the cold rainy weather, students were unable to eat under the sukkah and lunch was served inside.

“I celebrated Sukkot at home, but it was always really small. This was much bigger and it was a lot more exciting spending the day with my friends,” said Matt S.