A

t Daria Gutmann’s 
house, the whole 
family helps get 
ready for the holidays. “I 
usually help my dad build 
the sukkah, and that’s really 
special to me,” says the 
10-year-old. “My favorite 
part is decorating it.” Along 
with her dad, Rabbi Brent 
Gutmann, mom, Jill, and 
sisters, Tzipora, 7, Lyla, 4, 
and Vered, 2, the family fills 
their 16x12 sukkah with 
ribbons, paper chains, bead 
necklaces and homemade 
pictures. They put tables out 
with pumpkins and squash 
from their garden and invite 
guests for meals. 
Families around the world 
are spending this month 
immersed in the traditions 

of the Jewish holidays. 
Now, they’re turning their 
attention to Sukkot and 
Simchat Torah and taking 
part in celebrations at 
home and beyond. The 
big picture? According to 
Daria’s dad, the rabbi at 
Temple Kol Ami in West 
Bloomfield, it’s that there 
are different times in the 
year that evoke different 
symbols and lessons, 
and that they help us 
understand who we are, and 
the best people we get to be. 
There’s definitely lots to 
learn. Daria’s dad talks to 
her about the sukkahs, the 
temporary dwellings where 
they spend time during 
Sukkot, and the cadence of the 
holidays. He talks about the 

notion of impermanence and 
experiencing moments of joy. 
When Daria gets sad that 
her sukkah has to come 
down for the season, her 
dad can cheer her up. “He 
tells me, ‘It’ll be back next 
year,’” she says. Then it’s on 
to Simchat Torah, where 
Daria loves the music and 
dancing that come with 
the holiday. “We usually 
dance around in a circle and 
do these Israeli dances — 
they’re really fun!” 
Daria’s sister Tzipora, 7, 
is looking forward to being 
in the sukkah, too. She’s 
excited to eat and visit with 
friends. Her favorite food 
to eat during the holiday is 
warm soup “because usually 
it’s cold in the sukkah and it 

32 | SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 

APPLE TREE EXTRA

Celebrating 
 Sukkot 
Sukkot and 
 Simchat Torah
 Simchat Torah

KAREN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Sukkot 
The holiday began 
Sept 20 and is followed 
by Shemini Atzeret on 
Monday evening, Sept 27. 
Many Jewish families 
put up sukkahs (tempo-
rary huts with branches 
for roofs that let you see 
the sky) in their yards 
and spend time eating 
and sometimes sleeping, 
outside. Sukkahs are 
open on one side to 
welcome guests, and 
lots of fun to decorate.
They remind us of the 
huts the Jewish people 
lived in while wandering 
in the desert after libera-
tion from slavery in Egypt. 

