FESTIVAL OF SUKKOT
With Yom Kippur recently passed, the next traditional Jewish holiday to follow is the festival of Sukkot, a joyous celebration that is the start of a "clean slate" and a bountiful harvest!
A little history about Sukkot:
The festival celebrates the clouds that protected Israeli people as they journeyed to Jerusalem in exodus from Egypt, which took 40 years. In that time, God protected them with food and light as guidance. However, Sukkot also has existed for a very long time as merely an agriculturally based holiday; a celebration of harvest and bountiful enjoyment, particularly after the solemn fasting of Yom Kippur.
Our students learned about this history today and also the following elements of the festival of Sukkot:
--- The "Lulav": the fig tree palm frond used in celebration and music. Also, the "Estrog" or yellow citron. These two items are very traditional in celebrating--so much so that the festival is marked by the colors yellow and green.
--The Sukkah: the temporary hut structure often built at the edge of a field during harvest time that was used to feast and celebrate in! The Sukkah traditionally has 3-4 walls, and a drape-y door, such as a sheet or fabric. Often times, the roof was made with thatch or palm fronds, so that the sky and stars would be visible through the roof. Often the roof was decorated with fruit hung from the ceiling or tied on strings. This tradition continues today!
We built our own "Sukkah" today in music class, and we also sang the following fun songs about Sukkot, and listened to traditional Jewish music as well. I hope you enjoy all of the resources below. Don't forget to quiz your child at home about their experience today!
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Our younger students also read a poem from "Lightning Bugs and Lullabies" about talking to God. Check out our toddlers singing their daily prayer, "Amen"!
To The Sukkah
To the Sukkah I will bring
Fruits and vegetables on a string!
Tie them, hang them high
Through the roof, you see the sky!
To the Sukkah I will bring
Fruits and vegetables on a string!
Hear Miss Chantal explaining and singing this
song in MP3 form here:
While we built our Sukkah today, we listened to some traditional Jewish music. Check this out!