Last week, the Delta Phi Alpha German honorary, and Hillsdale Chavarah partnered to celebrate Sukkot, a week-long Jewish holiday.
Both organizations spent an entire day constructing a sukkah, a temporary wooden shelter symbolizing the structures that the Israelites inhabited after their exodus from Egypt.
At the beginning of the year, senior and Delta Phi Alpha President Kodiak Dschida approached the Hillsdale Chavarah asking if they would be willing to create an event with the German honorary.
Senior Emily Goodling, Delta Phi Alpha vice president, explained that both organizations worked together to create a campus event that included both German and Jewish influence.
“We planned the event at a joint meeting with the students of Chavarah,” Goodling said. “This event was super symbolic and meaningful for both organizations.”
The sukkah was built in the backyard of a German student’s off-campus residence. The 10 feet by 10 feet structure consisted of three covered walls and a s’chach roof, made of tree branches. According to the Torah, the roof must allow for more shade than light, but still create openings for the stars to be seen at night.
The event featured a short presentation and service from Hillsdale Chavarah, followed by the German honorary reading excerpts from books which survived the 1933 German University book burnings and a screening of “Europa Europa,” a German film which featured a sukkah.
Chavarah Treasurer Ayla Meyer’s previous experience with building a sukkah allowed her to share a religious and family tradition with students on campus. This year, Meyer helped organize the religious service and maintain the specific Jewish requirements for the sukkah.
“It is great to be able to educate people at this school. A lot of people haven’t necessarily experienced Jewish culture,” Meyer said, “so it is good to be able to educate them on what we believe.”
Peter Beckwith, Hillsdale College chaplain and Chavarah adviser along with Fred Yaniga Delta Phi Alpha adviser, played an active role in the event, assisting with the construction of the sukkah.
“This was a group project and a great idea from the leadership of both organizations,” Yaniga said. “We built this all together and it was a community effort with great participation and cooperation.”
Meyer agreed.
“A lot of our heritage is very dark, but I think it is wonderful that we are able to come together and build this bridge and celebrate something brighter,” Meyer said.
