By Rabbi Erin Mason, URJ Camp Newman Camp Director

Shabbat shalom & Chag Sameach!

This week, we began the holiday of Sukkot, the festival of booths. We set up temporary dwellings, closed on three sides with a roof that is open enough for us to see the stars. We are to eat meals in the sukkah, and some of us will sleep there. There is a tradition of welcoming guests into the sukkah, called ushpizin. Just as our ancestor Abraham welcomed strangers into his home, we too open our sukkot to others, sharing meals, stories, and time together.

This sukkot, we are hosting our first PJ Library & URJ Camp Newman’s Family Camp. We are welcoming 32 families into our camp community, many of whom have not experienced Camp. We will eat in our sukkah at camp, have fun together, learn together, and sing with our artist in residence, Jason Mesches.

This sukkot, who will you welcome into your sukkah? If you do not have a sukkah at your home, who will you welcome in your home?

Moadim l‘simcha – may these days of celebration be filled with joy for you and your family! (And keep an eye on your email… coming next week – our announcement of our Summer 2018 dates!)