For the first time, there is a public sukkah (tr. 'booth') in Beacon to celebrate the Jewish holiday known as Succot, a harvest festival that captures the state of impermanence. Beacon's very own sukkah now joins the ranks of a drive through sukkah in Miami and Sukkah City in NYC.
Sponsored by the Beacon Hebrew Alliance and BeaconArts, the Beacon Sukkah Project, is housed in a wooden structure wrapped in fabric with an open roof lined with bamboo, where daily events, classes, and workshops are taking place for the week-long holiday that began October 8th and ends October 16th. It's a place to learn, to listen, to see, and to experience the nuances of time in a transient space. Decorated with local art and set up with picnic tables, it is a place to gather and meet friends. A well-organized presentation about the first Jewish residents and their role in building Beacon in the early 1900's was informative during a visit on October 9th with a friend who is a congregant of the synagogue.
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| Rabbi Brent Spodek of Beacon Hebrew Alliance contemplates the Open Sky |
Food for thought: How wonderful to have a spotlight on Beacon's Jewish community with a sukkah by the Visitor's Center! While the candles of a menorah get lost in the lights of Christmas trees, solstice lasers and Kwanzaa candles, this premiere sukkah is uniquely placed in the forefront of Main Street with its own 'stars' to shine. The sukkah speaks to the universality of the human condition -- an awareness of its frailty and temporary state; it is a mindful meditation on the ultimate reliance on the Creator. What better way to celebrate together, with hope, in a time of transition and expectancy, for a safe passage as we wander through difficult and trying times.
