A social justice Sukkot

Waltham’s Temple Beth Israel welcomed the community to a dinner on Monday celebrating Sukkot, the Jewish holiday of thanksgiving for the agricultural harvest. Rabbi Ben Chaidell invited local social justice organizations to share information about their activities. 

Organizations in attendance included Food Not Bombs, Chaplains on the Way, Community Day Center of Waltham, Jewish Family & Children’s Services, the temple’s warming shelter and The Waltham Times.

The social justice focus is appropriate because the holiday commemorates the 40 years the Israelites lived in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. “Sukkot” refers to the temporary structures built of wood, with roofs of palm fronds or branches, which sheltered the Israelites.

Traditionally, families build sukkahs in their yards and observe the week-long holiday by gathering under the sukkah for meals and even sleeping outside. On Monday, the rain drove the festivities indoors, where guests enjoyed hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers, potato salad, corn on the cob, a harvest salad and brownies. 

Rabbi Chaidell welcomed the gathering, saying “There is always room under one sukkah for everyone.”