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Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Jewish festival brings hut to campus

Michael Applebaum spent hours last week drilling holes and nailing down boards for Lawrence’s largest Sukkah.

Applebaum, Overland Park senior, and some of his friends built the temporary and ceremonial hut at the Chabad Jewish Center, 1203. W. 19 St., in preparation for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.

This week, Lawrence’s largest Sukkah and the University of Kansas’ first Sukkah hut will be on campus. The smaller hut on campus is sponsored by the Chabad Jewish Center and Hillel. The larger hut is located at the Chabad Center.

“Pizza in the Hut”

When: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Where: Sukkah hut, north of the Kansas Union parking lot

What: Free kosher pizza, traditional Jewish foods, drinks and Jewish music in a Sukkah hut to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Sukkot

Sponsored by KU Hillel and the Chabad Jewish Center

Source: KU Hillel and the Chabad Jewish Center

“I’ve always celebrated with my family by building a Sukkah at home, but this is nice for those who can’t,” Applebaum said.

KU’s Sukkah hut was built on Monday north of the Kansas Union parking lot. At 5:30 p.m. today, Chabad and Hillel will host “Pizza in the Hut.” The event will feature free kosher pizza, traditional Jewish food and drink as well as Jewish music.

Matt Lehrman, Jewish student life coordinator and program director for Hillel, said the hut’s location on campus would provide opportunities for students to participate in the holiday who might have missed out on experiencing a Sukkah before because they lived in residence halls or fraternities and sororities.

Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel, director of the Chabad Jewish Center, said Sukkot is a week to celebrate the Israelites’ 40-year journey with Moses into the Sinai Desert before entering Israel centuries ago.

The Sukkah hut is used to symbolize the cloud covering that Jewish people believe kept the Israelites safe during their long journey. Today’s ceremonial hut is composed of four walls with a twig ceiling. Teichtel said the cracks between the twigs allow people to view the stars at night.

“For seven days, this hut should be your home,” Tiechtel said. “You take your meals in here. This is a time to celebrate and party and boost Jewish moral and confidence on campus.”

The Chabad Jewish Center will also use a traveling Sukkah to spread the holiday’s message and traditions. Tiechtel said the center would use a small, portable hut to serve food at various locations around Lawrence and the University, such as residence halls, fraternities, sororities and various locations on Massachusetts Street.

“If you can’t come to the Sukkah, the Sukkah will come to you,” Teichtel said.

The Sukkah hut will be on campus until Wednesday afternoon. Sukkot continues until Oct. 15. Anyone is welcome to visit the Sukkah hut and attend the event.

Kansan staff writer Courtney Hagen can be contacted at chagen@kansan.com

­ — Edited by Jacky Carter

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