St. Thomas’s Day School prides itself on having a strong religious literacy program where students can discover the richness of their own beliefs and develop an appreciation for others. This past week, fifth-graders were invited to the home of a fellow fifth-grader to learn about Sukkot and to eat lunch in the Sukkah (hut) constructed in the family’s yard. The fifth-graders learned the ritual of “Taking the Four Kinds” and how to shake/wave the lulav and etrog. Also, a snack of pomegranate was shared.
Sukkot, along with Passover and Shavuot, is one of the central pilgrimage festivals of Judaism. This year it began at sundown on October 4 and continues until sundown on October 11. It is customary to erect temporary huts called Sukkah to inhabit during Sukkot. The origins of Sukkot are rooted in ancient autumnal harvest festivals with the Sukkah representing the huts farmers would live in during the harvest period. Much of the ritual and imagery of Sukkot revolves around thanking God for the harvest.
Our school community comes closer together over these shared experiences and we want to thank our families for providing such wonderful opportunities for our students!
