R.E. - Sukkot, the Jewish Festival

Lesson: Religious education

Sukkot is a week-long festival in the sutumn and is held after the harvest has been gathered. In  preparation for Sukkot, Jewish people build a makeshift outdoor shelter and decorate it with fruit and other decorations. The shelter (Sukkah) has to be covered with branches and leaves and the sky must be visable through the roof so they are reminded of the presence of God in the heavens as a reminder of the impermanence of the construction. Families eat their meals in the Sukkah each day. Those families from warmer climates actually sleep in the Sukkah for the entire festival. 

Particular objects are key symbols in the celebration of the festival:
- A lulav (a collection of branches of palm, willow and myrtle) - the lulav is waved in 6 directions to show that God is everywhere; north, east, south, west, up and down. Each object holds it own symbolism as follows:

- The palm - symbolises the spine

-The willow- symbolises the lips

-The myrtle - symbolises the eyes

- An etrog - a lemon type fruit which symbolises the heart

These serve as a reminder that Jewish people must worship God with all parts of their body.

Here the children creating their own mini sukkah using, card, tape, sticks and leaves. The  children had so much fun making them!