Tonight some of us took a brief break from case studies to walk with some of our Jewish friends to a sukkah. What is a sukkah? It is a temporary tent that Jewish people construct during the annual festival of Sukkot – the festival of Tabernacles or more literally “tents.” The Jews celebrate Sukkot by eating together in temporary tents to remind them of their time in exodus from Egypt and their total reliance on God during those times.
In the sukkah we met with two Rabbi who explained the Jewish traditions surrounding Sukkot, their thoughts on water and wine, and even some interesting talk about the mezuzah. The mezuzah is an ornate case containing a tiny scroll with the shema scripture (Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One, blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom forever and ever. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be in your heart. And you shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall speak of them, when you sit at home, and when you walk along the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. -Dueteronomy 6:4-9) As instructed, Jews normally affix this scripture to their doorposts. I had not seen one on the tent, and asked the Rabbi if I had missed it. He explained further the tradition behind the mezuzah and the rabbinical tradition that temporary shelters do not need the mezuzah.
The Jews welcomed about 30 of us, representing many faiths (Christians, Hindus, Muslims, even Jews) into their dwelling, and we shared thoughts and food together.
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