What: The Jewish festival of Sukkot - a fall harvest festival lasting eight days - begins at sundown on Wednesday, October 12 and ends at sundown on Wednesday, October 19. KADIMA, Fairfield's undergraduate Jewish cultural club, in conjunction with the University's Judaic Studies Program and the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies, will be setting up a sukkah (a specially constructed hut) in honor of this time.

When: Noon to 1:30 p.m., on Thursday, October 13; Friday, October 14; Monday, October 17; Tuesday, October 18; and Wednesday, October 19. All members of the Fairfield University community are invited to visit, have lunch, and hold meetings or small classes in the sukkah, or use it as a quiet place for reflection.

Where: Fairfield University campus, the plaza between Donnarumma and Canisius Halls, near the Jogues Hall gate.

Why: Sukkot is a time of rejoicing, a time to strengthen one's resolve, to help those who are in need and to remind people of the fragility of life. Sukkot is traditionally celebrated by eating in (and for some religious Jews, even sleeping in) a sukkah (hut).

Barring unforeseen circumstances (such as heavy rains or wind), the sukkah will be up from Wednesday evening, October 12, through Friday, October 21. Please join Dr. Ellen Umansky, director of the Bennett Center for Judaic Studies; Dr. Gavriel Rosenfeld, associate professor of history; and Elaine Bowman, program manager of the Bennett Center, in the sukkah for lunch. One or more of them will be there from noon to 1:30 p.m. on October 13, 14, 17, 18, and 19. Bring your lunch. Dessert will be provided.

Posted On: 10-13-2011 11:10 AM

Volume: 44 Number: 74