Recalling God’s faithfulness
Feast of Tabernacles to help students understand the roots of their faith
The Center for Judaic Studies will host its fifth annual Feast of Tabernacles celebration in the lower atrium of the Jerry Falwell Library beginning Wednesday, Sept. 30.
The event serves to educate students in the Jewish tradition through the use of worship, dancing and other activities.
Photo credit: Leah Seavers
Dr. Randall Price, executive director of the Center for Judaic Studies, will lead the celebration at 1 p.m. Wednesday with Messianic worship songs along with a brief overview of the Feast of Tabernacles. Students will then form in circles around the Sukkah, the traditional Feast of Tabernacles booth, and will begin to learn traditional Jewish and Israeli dancing.
The Sukkah will be set up from Sept. 28-Oct. 2 for students to spend some time meditating on God’s provision in their lives and reading additional information about the feast.
According to Ayelet Evans, administrative assistant to Price, the purpose of the event is also to help teach the students the Jewish foundation of the Christian faith because God chose the Jewish people to fulfill His redemptive covenant for all of mankind.
The Feast of Tabernacles celebration at Liberty began in 2010. The Sukkah was set up in DeMoss Hall, and students stopped by at their own leisure. However, last year was the first year the Center for Judaic Studies hosted the celebration in the library, where about 150 students attended. The center hopes to build on the success of last year’s event and welcome an even greater number of guests.
Evans said students are becoming more and more interested in the roots of their faith, as well as the Jewish traditions.
The Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Booths and Sukkot, was designed to remind the Israelites of God’s covenant of redemption in their lives, God’s faithfulness to his promises, and the trials God carried them through. God’s love and faithfulness to his people was meant to be exemplified throughout the feast.
All students, faculty and staff are welcomed to attend the Feast of Tabernacles in order to fully understand the roots of their beliefs and the Jewish tradition.
Barnes is a news reporter.