SURA RUBENSTEIN AND RICK HASELTON show off their sukkah where they hosted 50 children and teens and served them candy corn, chocolate money, and lollypops during the fourth annual Sukkah Hop hosted by Portland Jewish Events.

Successful 4th Annual Sukkah draws 50

By JEWISH REVIEW

article created on: 2008-11-01T00:00:00

More than 50 children and teens walked to eight sukkahs during the fourth annual Sukkah Hop hosted by Portland Jewish Events on Oct. 14, the first day of Sukkot.

Participants ranged from babies in strollers (accompanied by parents) to 17 year olds. Several chaperones, including young adults Becca Cigan and Israel Gershkovitz, helped keep the younger children on track.

The group visited eight sukkahs in Southwest Portland, all within walking distance of the Mittleman Jewish Community Center, where the group met.

All host families provided parve strictly kosher snacks, so that every youth could eat at every sukkah. Some families told stories, while others did sukkot trivia.

One sukkah offered an opportunity to shake the lulav and etrog.

“I do it because, as a kid, my shul had this event every year for the kids,” said Jodi Berris, who organizes the Portland event. “I remember having so much fun walking around with friends in my Detroit suburb while filling my mouth and pockets with unhealthy treats and seeing so many different sukkahs. I want the youth and teens of Portland to be able to have the same experience that I did growing up.”