Second Annual Women's Celebration of Sukkot Sept. 26

At Brandeis Women’s Studies Research Center

In collaboration with Sh’ma: A Journal of Jewish Responsibility and Mayyim Hayyim: A Living Waters Community Mikveh and Education Center, the Brandeis University Women's Studies Research Center will encourage a new participatory role for women this Sukkot.

The first Women’s Celebration of Sukkot was held last year, just after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. With presentations by novelist and Mayyim Hayyim founder Anita Diamant on “Mayim, Mikveh and Desert Wandering” and Rabbi Cherie Koller-Fox on “Entering the Sukkah One Year after 9/11,” this year's Sept. 26 program will continue the themes of home, wandering, transition, vulnerability and strength expressed at that time.

A central focus of this event, to begin at 5 p.m. at the Center, will be a Women’s Sukkah decorated with the art of Dorothy Abram of Dunbarton, New Hampshire, Deborah Klotz Paris of Falmouth, Maine, Flora Rosefsky of Atlanta, Georgia, Elee Koplow of Chestnut Hill, Mass., and Mary Oestereicher Hamill of Cambridge, Mass. These five Jewish artists were selected from a recent open call for 3-by-4-foot Sukkah panels.

“In the last decade or so, women have brought an orange to the Seder plate and all types of special seders are now held,” said Shulamit Reinharz, founding director of the Hadassah International Research Institute on Jewish Women at Brandeis. “But what new ideas do women bring to the sukkah?” she asked. “The celebration of Sukkot, like all the holidays, gives women a chance to add a fresh perspective.”

One such new idea advanced by modern womens’ groups are ushpiziot, to join the ushpizim (symbolic ancestral guests whose portraits are hung on the sukkah walls). This movement incorporates all Jewish celebrations in an effort to build upon traditional observance.

“The idea of creating a sukkah collaboratively designed and decorated by women artists,” said Gallery Coordinator Ana Davis, “evolved naturally from the Research Institute, whose mission is to produce and promote scholarly and artistic projects and to build a strong, international network of Jewish women.” She noted the similar concept of women building strong and secure homes, even in the case of the fragile and temporary sukkah, and in the shadow of the past year’s many devastating events.

“A sukkah provides an accessible and sacred space for those who enter,” said Aliza Kline, executive director of Mayyim Hayyim. “Dwelling in the sukkah itself is a physical, yet meaningful act. Similarly, when entering the mikveh, one has the sense of being enveloped by God's presence. Both the sukkah and the mikveh can make us feel comforted and safe, even though we are exposed and seemingly unprotected.”

“Looking to Jewish tradition for strength is particularly important after a year that saw tragedy after tragedy, in the U.S. and in Israel,” said the organizers in a statement.

“The holiday of Sukkot offers a ray of hope,” said Sh’ma editor Susan Berrin, “that we can rebuild in a way that is both fragile to the elements but securely erected with dreams of peace, justice and abundant love. The sukkah is ‘sukkat shalom,’ a sukkah of peace, and when we celebrate with women who span diverse communities, we build one more pillar of strength.”

“We hope that our building of a sukkah will inspire many women to build sukkot and explore what that means to them today,” added Reinharz. 

The program will include learning, dance, music and refreshments. For more information, visit www.brandeis.edu/hirijw, or call 781-736-8114.