Barnet residents and Middlesex students enjoy multi-faith Sukkot celebration

The weeklong Jewish festival remembers the 40 years that Israelites spent in the wilderness after leaving Egypt

Barnet residents, community and religious leaders of all different faiths celebrated Sukkot at Middlesex University.

The event was held on the University’s Hendon campus in North London to celebrate the weeklong Jewish festival which marks a period of thanksgiving after the harvest has been collected.

Organised by the Middlesex University Inter-Faith Network, ten rabbis attended alongside students, residents and local councillors who were served drinks and food after the speeches.

The festival commemorates when the Israelites were in the wilderness living in temporary shelters, relaying on God for survival and protection.

During the festival many Jewish families pay respect by building and decorating a ‘sukkah’, a temporary outdoor structure with a roof made from natural materials such as branches or reeds, so the stars can be seen through it. People eat meals in the sukkah throughout the festival, and some choose to sleep there as well.

A sukkah was erected on campus outside the hall and featured celebratory messages from Middlesex students as well as harvest produce.

Speakers touched on the key themes of the festival that include hospitality, community and gratitude.
Professor Shân Wareing, Vice-Chancellor of Middlesex University, spoke about the values of the ancient Jewish traditions and how they are so important in today’s world.

Professor Wareing said: “We can all view our neighbours with compassion and understand their perspectives which is part of the meaning of Sukkot. I hope this will be first of many Sukkot events, as we continue to celebrate Jewish life across our campuses – alongside the rich array of faith traditions we are lucky to find within our University and wider community. We know the people of Barnet are very good at embracing diversity and it is a fabulously diverse borough.”

As a Muslim, standing with you under the Sukkot Festival, this is a deeply special moment for me. I often say there is a connection between Muslims and Jews through our deep rooted theological, historical and cultural bonds that make celebrating Sukkot together a powerful symbol of unity. 
“In a world where division can come along all too easily, events such as this one demonstrate the value of dialogue, understanding and friendship between us.”

Cllr Zahra Beg, the Mayor of Barnet

Dr Helena Miller, Director of Post-Graduate Degrees at Middlesex and a Senior Research Fellow at the London School of Jewish Studies, explained the history and meaning of Sukkot for guests. Dame Janet Ritterman, the Chancellor of Middlesex University, was also in attendance.

Sukkot’s connection to nature is reflected in the use of the Four Species: the lulav (palm branch), etrog (citron), hadassim (myrtle branches) and aravot (willow branches). These are held together and waved during prayers as expressions of gratitude and unity.

Luana Lissner, president of Middlesex University’s Jewish Society, spoke about how she grew up in Brazil but it wasn’t until moving to London that she experienced a large Jewish community.

She said: “A university can be a bit like a sukkah. It can be a place where people from completely different backgrounds, cultures, religions and experiences come together. A place where we don’t necessarily have to agree with each other, or believe the same things, or have the same stories - but where we can learn from one another and respect each other’s experiences. That’s what I hope we can create at Middlesex.”

Raphi Leon, president of the Union of Jewish Students, which represents more than 10,000 students across the UK and Ireland, said: “Middlesex University has shown its Jewish students that it cares about them - not just with warm words, but in action. We are delighted to support them in publicly celebrating the Jewish festival of Sukkot, and hope this can be an opportunity for renewed commitment to building bridges and developing interfaith relations on campus.”