Proceeds from 2011 Sukkahfest to Benefit Camp Gan B’Kayitz

It was a fun-filled celebration this weekend at the , as families celebrated the religious holiday Sukkot.

A two-part festival, known as Sukkahfest, took place at the center located on Ryders Lane. On Saturday evening, a meal for adults featured dinner and dessert from Lox Stock and Deli. On Sunday, a family event, “Pizza in the Hut,” was organized by both the EBJC Mitzvah Corps and Camp Gan B'Kayitz.

“We have about 106 people here today and 65 last night,” said Melanie Blatteis, a Sukkahfest organizer.

Blatteis noted the importance of a good turnout for the event. Recongized as a fun holiday, Sukkahfest organizers took the opportunity to fundraise among the congregation for a new swimming pool for Camp Gan B'Kayitz.

“We’re one of the few camps in the area that offers a full swim program,” said Blatteis.  “The pool was on the older side, so now we’re trying to put a new one in.”

Sukkot is an agricultural holiday, and is known as the Jewish Feast of the Tabernacle. This year, the holiday began officially at sundown on Oct. 12 and ends at nightfall on Oct. 19, making the feast seven days and eight nights.

According to Jack Silverman, co-chairman of the EBJC Mitzvah Corp, Sukkot is one of the three holidays when Jews were required to pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem. (The other two pilgrim festivals are Passover and Shavout.)

“A lot of (Sukkote) is harvest related,” said Silverman.  “You see that we have the roof of the Sukkah made out of bamboo. You’re supposed to be able to see the stars and not be completely covered.”  

The openness of the hut symbolizes that God is always present. Many Jews will build Sukkahs in their backyards and sleep in them at night. The Sukkah at the EBJC, however, is for community celebrations.  

“In the Sukkah, you’re supposed to have a meal and there are certain blessings you say for the meal,” said Silverman.

appeared for the blessing, and addressed the children. He brought the etrog, a citron fruit, and lulav from the date palm tree, waving these items forward, backward, left, right, up and down. This action symbolizes that God is present in all of creation. He invited the kids to come forward and wave these items in celebration.

Finkelstien also commended the work of Dori Pomerantz Saypol, a member of the congregation and founder of . She made the citron and lulav out of balloons to decorate the entrance of the sukkah.   

“You know what Sukkot is known for?” Finkelstein asked the children. “There are a lot of holidays in Judaism...Sukkot is the fun holiday. We’re supposed to have fun.

“This is the second best pizza I had. There was once this place in Jerusalem on the corner that was really good too,” he added.

After lunch, Laura Silverman provided entertainment with her guitar and vocals, performing traditional Jewish songs and modern favorites. Her Taylor Swift covers were a hit with the younger crowd who danced in front of her microphone.

Known among campers as "Lifeguard Laura," Silverman is a student at Rutgers University who has worked at the camp during her summer vacations.  She said the old pool’s sustainability is “nerve-wracking” since it is vital to the camp’s success. She was glad to see that families involved in the camp, both in the past and present, attended Sukkahfest.  

“Having a big turnout come and support a new pool for the camp is really incredible. It’s really nice to see that,” said Silverman. 

After pizza and cake, families enjoyed the playground on what proved to be a breezy, clear and sunny day.

According to the EBJC website, Sukkot services and festivities continue through Friday, Oct. 21.