Spring Break
Jewish organizations deliver
holiday celebration to campus
Allie Figures
Issue date: 10/20/08 Section: News
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Sukkot is one of three Jewish pilgrimage holidays each year, said Rachel Meis, the co-president of the Jewish Student Union, that celebrates the religion's ancient heritage by spending time and living in temporary dwellings known as sukkahs.
A sukkah, built once a year to resemble the temporary dwellings of Israelites who wandered the desert for 40 years, was erected last Monday by the Jewish Student Union and members of the Hillel House, the SJSU headquarters of Hillel of Silicon Valley, a nonprofit organization that supports Jewish life on campus.
"We use temporary materials to show the fragility of life," said Emilya Burd, a sophomore political science major from De Anza Community College.
In previous years, the sukkah was built at the Hillel House. But after the sukkah was burned down last October, the Hillel House coordinated with SJSU to have it built on campus for a week.
"We wanted to have it here so it can be more accessible for students to learn about the Jewish culture," said Adara Beamesderfer, a sophomore health science administration major, "and so campus security could monitor it."
Vavina Sandel, the assistant director at the Hillel House, said the police deemed the incident as an act of vandalism, not a hate crime.
After hearing about the fire, community members donated money to help buy materials for another sukkah, said Herzel Ashkenazi, treasurer of the Hillel House. A typical sukkah costs up to $1,000.
As members of the JSU and Hillel House congregated Friday night, there were no hard feelings about their sukkah being burned down, only sentiments of fulfillment for being able to celebrate in the tent safely.
"It was so hurtful to have our sukkah burned down," Beamesderfer said, "but forgiveness is a large part of our religion."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Phil Kipnis
posted 10/20/08 @ 8:08 PM PST
A special "Yasher Koach" to the Administration for having the Sukkah (booth) on campus so that everyone, Jew and Non Jew could learn about our culture and enjoy the Sukkot Holiday with us. (Continued…)
tony jacobs
posted 10/20/08 @ 10:18 PM PST
if you guys are so full of love and compassion, and want to show equality, then why doesn't the JSU engage in the MJCC more? hardly anyone of your religion there. (Continued…)
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