Beth Am Temple hosts Sukkot service with composting presentation Oct. 16

Sukkot is a week-long Jewish holiday that commemorates the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. It is celebrated by building and dwelling in temporary shelters, called sukkahs, to symbolize the fragile huts they lived in during their travels.
Sukkot is a week-long Jewish holiday that commemorates the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. It is celebrated by building and dwelling in temporary shelters, called sukkahs, to symbolize the fragile huts they lived in during their travels.

PEARL RIVER, N.Y.—Beth Am Temple holds its Erev Sukkot service on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m., featuring an environmental focus. As part of the family-friendly celebration, Ann Ellis, a temple member and experienced gardener, will give a brief presentation on composting. She will explain what composting is, its benefits, and how to start composting at home, including the do’s and don’ts, essential materials, and where to find more information. Ellis will also demonstrate how a kitchen composter works.

After the approximately hour-long service and presentation, attendees are invited to a kiddush (a blessing recited over wine or grape juice) in the sukkah (a temporary hut built to celebrate the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot). Participants will also have the opportunity to recite the blessings and wave the lulav (a bundle of palm, myrtle, and willow branches used in Sukkot rituals).

Beth Am Temple, a Reform congregation that blends tradition with inclusivity, serves members from Rockland County, N.Y, and northern Bergen County. The temple is at 60 East Madison Ave., Pearl River, N.Y. For more information, visit the temple’s website.