That hut has meaning to many Jewish students. It is called a sukkah, and it is used to celebrate the holiday of Sukkot. This year, Sukkot starts today and ends Thursday night, Oct. 19. The Jewish people have just concluded the High Holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur), which are filled with themes of repentance, judgment and forgiveness. Now, we are moving into a time of celebration.
Sukkot is one of three festivals which entailed a pilgrimage to the Holy Temple in ancient Jerusalem. It commemorates the Israelites' journey in the desert which began with the exodus from Egypt (celebrated on Passover) and includes the giving of the Torah (celebrated by Shavuot). Sukkot commemorates the Israelites' wandering like nomads in the desert and sleeping in huts.
All of the pilgrimage festivals have an agricultural element. Sukkot marks the time of harvest and the final gathering of produce before the winter. During Sukkot, some Jews live in the sukkah in honor of their ancestors.
The main theme of Sukkot is joy. In biblical times, Sukkot was considered the main festival of the year. People traveled far and wide to reach Jerusalem and partake in the festival rituals. During King Solomon's reign, there would be a public reading of the Torah every seventh Sukkot. Some Jews also believe that when the messianic era comes, all Jews will gather in Jerusalem to celebrate Sukkot.
There are three commandments concerning Sukkot. Jews are commanded to spend time in the sukkah, gather together four specific plant species and rejoice during the festival. There are many other rituals such as reading the biblical book of Ecclesiastes and inviting guests to the sukkah. The most important commandment is living in the sukkah. The sukkah itself is a temporary structure with tree branches as a roof. Most people eat in the sukkah, and some people even sleep in it. We also are encouraged to study, read and have discussions in the sukkah. There is an obligation to eat in the sukkah the first night, but if the weather is harsh there is an exemption.
One very important custom is that of the four species known as the lulav (palm branch) and etrog (citron - a fruit which looks like a bumpy lemon). The specific species are citron, palm, myrtle and willow. These species remind us of the usage of crops to praise God and the bounty the He/She has provided. The commandment is for each Jew to take the lulav and etrog together and shake them.
One interpretation of the four species is that they symbolize a person. The palm branch is the spine, the myrtle leaves are the eyes, the willow leaves are the mouth and the citron is the heart. Through these species, we can express our desire to serve God with all of our vital parts.
Please feel free to come eat lunch or just hang out in our campus sukkah this week and see a lulav and etrog. At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday there will be jazz in the sukkah, and on Thursday there will be a lunch-and-learn on social justice in Jewish tradition. I hope you will enjoy this special Jewish tradition.
Sarah Bruck can be reached at bruck@email.unc.edu.
