Havurah builds a sukkah for Sukkot

On Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to noon the Havurah synagogue will host its annual sukkah decorating party. Each year the community gathers on the first Sunday after Yom Kippur, the most contemplative day in the Jewish year, to prepare for one of the most joyous festivals on the Jewish Calendar.

The Jewish Festival of Sukkot (pronounced "soo-coat") commemorates the 40-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters. Agriculturally, Sukkot is a harvest festival and is sometimes referred to as Chag Ha-Asif, the Festival of Ingathering.

The Havurah synagogue will host several events during the week of Sukkot, the first of which is the decorating party. This year the Havurah will welcome families from the Unitarian Church in Ashland as part of their study of Judaism. There will be crafts for children and adults, and Rabbi David Zaslow will offer a teaching around the rituals and traditions of Sukkot.

On Monday, the holiday begins at sunset and will be celebrated with an evening of song, chanting, and story by Debra Zaslow in the Sukkah.

A vegetarian potluck dinner will be shared at 6 p.m. in the Sukkah, which is an outdoor, hut-like structure that is decorated with evergreen, corn stalks, flowers, gourds and bales of hay to sit on and, finally, walls of material to give some protection from the elements. Participants are asked to dress warmly and bring a blanket to sit on.

On Wednesday, as part of the Jewish Film Series the free film "Ushpizin" will be shown in honor of the Sukkot holiday. The story takes place during Sukkot in Jerusalem, and is an intimate look into the life of Breslaver Chasidim in Israel. The film is in Hebrew with English subtitles and is filled with heartwarming humor.

On Friday, the Havurah community will gather once again at 6 p.m. with a veggie potluck meal. The celebration will be twofold as the holiday continues and Shabbat is welcomed. Story, song and chanting will fill the evening led by Rabbi David.

"Our community always welcomes everyone into our Sukkah, regardless of what spiritual path they follow," said Ayala Zonnenschein, Havurah program director. "One of the traditions of this holiday is to welcome the stranger — reminiscent of Abraham's open tent."

On Saturday, Oct. 18 there will be a "Tish n Nosh" with Rabbi David in the Sukkah. "Tish n Nosh" is Yiddish for the old Chasidic custom of sharing an informal meal at the Rabbi's table while enjoying a teaching. The subject of the teaching will be "Living a Full Life with the Knowledge That Life is so Temporary."

Everyone is invited to attend and join in the brunch that will be provided. Call the Havurah office at 488-7716 to reserve a spot for this free event or with any inquiries, or go to the Havurah Web site at www.havurahshirhadash.org for a full schedule of upcoming events and downloadable calendars.