The Kingston Jewish Council invites you to Join us for our community Sukkot Celebration!
Location: Lower Pavillion of Springer Market Square in Dowtown Kingston
Free Event~Everyone Welcome
Calendar of Events
Please check the Kingston Jewish Council Facebook page for any event changes that may come up unexpectedly. Please join us for any of these events, or visit our Sukkah in between events - we'd love to connect!
Tuesday, October 7
The Sukkah will hold a commemorative presence in the square without any programming
Wednesday, October 8 - Sunday, October 12
- Visits from dignitaries
- Performance and Sing Along with Ros Schwartz
- Live canvas painting by Rita Winkler
- Folk Dancing led by Jackie Mills
- Children's Programming led by Chabad
- Interfaith discussion of Sukkot in biblical times by Rev Elizabeth MacDonald and Debbie Fitzerman
- And More! Please reach out for questions about scheduled programming <Email: info@jewishkingston.org>
With Thanks to our Sponsors
Thank you to the Government of Canada for their generous support
We also wish to thank Jewish Federations of Canada for their generous donation.
Thanks to the Sukkah and Schach Center in Montreal for their generous donation
The Kingston Jewish Council wishes to thank each of the speakers, ambassadors, and community partners who are dedicating their time, donating their travel expenses/materials/equipment, and sharing their tremendous talents with us. We are inspired by your generous contributions!
What is Sukkot?
Also known as the Festival of Booths, Tabernacles, or Huts, Sukkot takes place 5 days after the Jewish High Holiday of Yom Kippur. During Sukkot, Jewish people are supposed to dwell (spend time and eat meals) in a Sukkah. This tradition has historic links to the completion of the farmer's harvest - a theme that remains central in the celebration of this festival. Jewish people dwell in Sukkah's to commemorate the Jews who lived in temporary huts when they wandered the desert for 40 years after escaping slavery in Egypt. The Festival has been referred to as a Jewish Thanksgiving (My Jewish Learning, 2020).
There are many more rituals and traditions involved in Sukkot. Visit this link to learn more about Sukkot.
(BimBam, 2017)
What is a Sukkah?
A Sukkah is a temporary hut that is meant to be flimsy. It has at least three walls and is covered in branches or foliage (but not so covered that you can't see the stars at night).
Why are we putting a Sukkah in Springer Market Square?
-to share Jewish traditions and holidays with the wider Kingston community
-to help raise awareness about homelessness and food insecurity in our community
- It is a Mitzvah (meaning commandment or good deed) of Sukkot for us to share this joyous occasion with others
Highlight video from Sukkah in the Square 2023
How you can help
Jewish Partners and Community Service Partners:
1. Sign up to host a workshop or event in our Sukkah
Please review our event guidelines and provide us with a brief summary of your event plans. Email: info@jewishkingston.org
2. Share materials and resources we can display in our Sukkah
If you have access to interactive displays, information, art, or links (QR Codes) to online resources pertaining to Sukkot, food insecurity, homelessness or stigma-reducing strategies please e-mail us: info@jewishkingston.org
Would you like to advertise or be a sponsor? Reach out and let's talk!
Email: info@jewishkingston.org
All Visitors/Participants
1. Please visit our Sukkah!! Our events calendar will be posted on this site closer to the event, but you can also visit in between events to explore the materials in the Sukkah.
2. This event is completely free of charge! There will be opportunities to donate to the "Tzedakah of the Day." The word Tzedakah is Hebrew meaning both Charity and Justice. Each day of Sukkot we will suggest a local charity to support.
References
BimBam. (2017, September 20). The LEGO Sukkot Movie: Jewish Holidays 101 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRHkgWGyn4Y
My Jewish Learning. (2020). Sukkot 101. My Jewish Learning. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/sukkot-101/
The Kingston Jewish Council holds events on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat.
Credits:
Created with images by tomertu - "Jewish festival of Sukkot. Traditional symbols (The four species): Etrog (citron), lulav (palm branch), hadas (myrtle), arava (willow)" • Rafael Ben-Ari - "Jewish family decorating the interior of a Sukkah with colourful traditional artwork" • natushm - "Sukkot streets in Israel" • Rafael Ben-Ari - "Jewish Festival of Sukkot" • alefbet26 - "Sukkah - symbolic temporary hut for celebration of Jewish Holiday Sukkot" • Rafael Ben-Ari - "Jewish Family Building a Sukkah on Sukkoth Feast of Tabernacles Jewish Holiday" • Inna - "Colorful Sukkah decoration shiny garland and table. Happy family celebrate Sukkot." • demerzel21 - "Kingston City Hall, Ontario at Night" • Jacob Lund - "Stack of hands showing unity and teamwork" • Piotr - "Decorative sculpture of an elephant. A toy made of Papier-mache. Motley beast."