Adath Israel Sukkah Plaza

Project Narrative

A permanent Sukkah Arbor and Plaza is created for Sukkot ceremonial use and multiple gathering events. A new plaza replaces an earlier deteriorated plaza where a temporary Sukkah structure was installed each year.

The Religious Use:
“Sukkah” were hut like structures that Jews lived during 40 years of travel after the exodus from Egypt. The eight days after Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, is the festival of Sukkot. A Sukkah structure is built, or if permanent, adorned and enclosed for dwelling, eating and meditation in remembrance of homeless wandering after the exodus.

Symbolism:
• The Sukkot ceremony serves as an admonition to man to be humble like those whose ancestors were exiled to Babylonia and homeless and wandering.
• Portrayed in liturgy as a symbol of peace. “Spread over us the shelter of Your Peace”.
• “Man leaves his home to move into a temporary abode, absent of wealth and security to remind him that he depends upon the Almighty”.

The Design:
• Natural materials – all columns, beams, joists, purlins are Douglas Fir.
• Temporary walls are demountable fabric covered Star of David in Douglas Fir.
• Cast iron fence and simple buffer landscape plaza.
• Bamboo slats are unrolled over the purlins during the Sukkah period.
• Children adorn the Sukkah arbor for the ceremonial period.

The Sukkah arbor is designed to serve as a permanent structure for multiple Synagogue uses including:
• Sukkot ceremonial events, wine tastings
• Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, Bot Mitzvah receptions

                                           

Project Details