We began last week by learning about a new holiday.

Morah Tzivie: We are going to celebrate another holiday! This holiday has a special hut with four walls, but no ceiling and no floor.

Matan: A Sukkah! 

Morah Tzivie: Yes! Let's look up. What do you see?

Lochlan: The ceiling.

Morah Tzivie: The ceiling of the Sukkah is special. It is called saicch. It is made of branches and leaves. When you go to the playground, look around and look up and see how it is different from the classroom ceiling.

 

Morah Katie: What do you see?

Lochlan: The sky.

Jade: The trees.

Morah Katie: If it was night time what would we be able to see?

Lochlan: The stars.
Morah Katie: How is it possible that we can see the blue sky through the roof?
Carson: The saicch.
Morah Katie: What is it made of?
Lochlan: Leaves and branches.

We went on a nature walk to collect some saicch, small branches and sticks, for our block sukkahs.

 

Morah Tzivie: Do you know why we build sukkahs? 

Matan: For Sukkot.

Maya: We eat in it.

Morah Tzivie: That is true, there is another reason.

Morah Tzivie told us a story. 

Many, many years ago, after the Jewish people left Egypt, they traveled in the desert. The desert was hot in day and very cold at night. The wind would blow sand at them as they walked.  They walked through bugs and snakes. It was very uncomfortable, and not safe.  

Hashem wanted the Jewish people be protected and comforted. 

 

Hashem placed clouds around them to protect them from the wind and sand, the bugs and snakes.  He covered them with a cloud to keep them safe from the hot sun and warm at night.  When we are in the sukkah surrounded by the walls and the saicch, it reminds us of how Hashem loves and protects us.

We had graham cracker sukkahs as a snack.

This week we ate lunch in the sukkah!

Rabbi joined us and helped us say the special blessings for the sukkah and for waving the lulav and etrog! 

Morah Katie: Friends, tell me why we build a sukkah for Sukkot?

Ozzie: The wind blows.
Morah Katie: The wind did blow. When? Where?
Carson: The clouds protect us.  The 4 walls ... are the clouds.
Miles:  The saicch too... is the cloud...
Lochlan: Protected from the sand too.

Morah Eden: Don't you feel cozy and protected in the sukkah?

Jade: Like a hug.

We will finish our week making flags and dancing with our Torahs for Simchat Torah.