Open-air shelters recall Israelites' desert journey

10/3/2009

The Jewish holiday of Sukkot, which began last night and continues through Friday, is a reminder of the way ancient Israelites lived in temporary shelters while wandering in the desert for 40 years.

For the holiday, also known as the Festival of Booths, Jews set up open-air shelters called sukkahs in accordance with the Book of Leviticus, which says, “For seven days, all Jewish people should live in sukkahs in order that all your generations will remember that I had the Jewish people living in sukkahs when I took them out of Egypt.”

Many people set up sukkahs in their yards during the holiday. Jews who don't have their own sukkahs are invited to use the one at Toledo's Chabad House-Lubavitch, 4020 Nantucket Dr. In addition, Chabad House has a “Sukkah on Wheels,” a truck with a portable thatched roof on the back, that can be driven to people's homes. Information: 419-843-9393.