Every year at JCDS, the eighth graders look forward to many eighth-grade moments. A well-known rite of passage is the annual eighth grade sukkah construction. The grade works together to build the sukkah that is used by the whole school.

Of course this year’s sukkah-building was different. Besides having to work out distancing protocols, we had to rework the actual sukkah after it had a fateful fall during last year’s Sukkot hurricane! The eighth grade modeled perseverance, and with immense help from alumni parent and sukkah constructor Gary Elovitz, the walls were repaired and lifted into place by the students. Their hard work was immediately put to the test when a violent and windy storm rolled through hours after construction. Luckily, the sukkah remained standing for all to see and will stand tall throughout the weeklong holiday.

The eighth grade’s cooperation and hard work will once again allow students of all ages to perform the mitzvah of Leshev baSukkah, dwelling/sitting in the sukkah on this most joyous holiday.

Oren Kaunfer is the madrich ruchani (spiritual educator) at JCDS.

The School Sparks blog appears periodically by various writers among the JCDS educational team. Learn more about JCDS, Boston’s Jewish Community Day School.

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