Constructing harvest with a sukkah

FALLS VILLAGE — Steve Sherman directed a crew on Thursday, Oct. 2, as they worked on a sukkah for next week’s Sukkahfest Harvest Festival at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center.

The literal translation of the Hebrew “sukkot” is “booths,” which Sherman didn’t find particularly useful.

“It’s more like structures,” he said. “It commemorates the wandering in the desert.”

Historically, the booths or structures resemble the temporary structures the ancient Hebrews used when harvesting dates, he added.

In any event, there are very specific directions for building the booths, part of a tradition that is thusands of years old.

The roof is thatched — Sherman said they would use invasive plants from the lake for part of it — and it has to cover more than half of the area. But the stars must also be visible.

Sherman, from Barrington, R.I., came to the center in 2011 to participate in the Adamah fellowship and stayed on afterward.

He’s worn a couple of hats — goat dairy co-manager and now general maintenance person, with an interlude as a counselor at a camp in Vermont.

He said the Sukkahfest is a “homecoming” for the Adamah alumni.

“We get to see all our old friends.

“And we connect to the environment and agriculture, give a more spiritual meaning to farm work and environmental education.

“It’s definitely a treat for me.”

Sukkahfest began Oct. 8 and continues to Oct. 12.

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