Members of Hillel perform the ritual of taking the Lulav, which is shaken to the north, east, west and south to remind them that God is everywhere.
In the front yard of the Oregon Hillel house on Hilyard Street stands a small house of sorts — one with sheets for walls, a roof made of plants and vines and trim comprised of bananas, apples and paper chains.
Jewish University students built the structure, called a “sukkah,” to celebrate Sukkot, a seven-day holiday that began on the eve of Oct. 1.
Senior Sarah Isgur, Hillel co-president, said Sukkot is less solemn than the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, which were celebrated in September.
“The year’s starting again, and we’re out here celebrating the harvest, so it’s more of a joyous occasion,” she said.
Sukkah is Hebrew for booth. According to tradition, during Sukkot, Jews sleep, eat meals and spend time in the sukkah to celebrate the fall harvest and to remember the lives of ancestors who lived in desert huts, Hillel Executive Director Hal Applebaum said.
Sukkot also honors nature, he said. During Sukkot, prayers are said with branches from trees known as the “Four Species” — the citron, palm, myrtle and willow. Jewish tradition teaches that the Four Species bring spiritual blessings, he said.
Students built the 8-by-12 sukkah from scratch, junior Andrea Lipstein said. They nailed together wooden boards to create the framework. For walls, they covered the frame with brightly colored sheets, some printed with zebra stripes, moons and stars.
Squash, fruit and plants decorate the outside of the sukkah to represent the harvest. Inside the sukkah, paper chains, strings of popcorn and apples hang from the ceiling.
According to tradition, one wall of the sukkah must be left uncovered, she said. And although the roof is covered, there must be an opening large enough to see three stars in the night sky.
Lipstein said it is important to be able to see three stars because Jewish holidays officially begin at sundown, when three stars are visible in the sky.
To celebrate Sukkot, all Hillel events this week, including a dinner on Tuesday night, were held in the sukkah. Weekend services will also be held in the sukkah.
Senior Stacey Schwartz is the Tzedek Hillel chairwoman, a position relating to community service and social action. She said building the sukkah was a good way for students to come together.
“It’s cool to have everyone working together and building this,” she said.
Kara Cogswell is a student activities reporter for the Oregon Daily Emerald. She can be reached at [email protected].
