Sukkahs R Us.  A sukkah or booth,like so  much else, come in many sizes and appearances.  It may be constructed in an elaborate way or made with a so-called instant sukkah kit.  There are other innovative ways to make a sukkah.  Every sukkah has an  open entry and  see-through ceiling.  Each d is decorated with fruits and holds a table to scale.  Individuality brings us to “Sukkahs R Us”.

     Those who live in a house may set up a booth on a porch, balcony, gazebo, patio, yard or front lawn.   Although the various sukkah may differ in appearance, the commonality of open entry and see-through roof are the same.

       Dependent on living arrangements, additional kinds of sukkahs are created.  

When my parents lived in a high rise condo building, my mother made a table top sukkah out of cardboard with an open front and slatted top.  She used it as a centerpiece on the holiday table.  It drew many compliments.  

     If one does not have outdoor space available, create an indoor sukkah.   Turn a shoe box on its side, have adults cut out slats in the top, and the children decorate with play fruits and doll furniture.  Transfer this concept to other situations.

      For example, try this.  Get a large cardboard box from a furniture store.  Follow the previous directions on an appropriate scale. Place child or adult table and chairs for holiday meals.  If used inside, place hand made star, moon, etc. above the ceiling perhaps as a mobile.  Decorate the sukkah with fruit.  The sukkah booth is portable, room to room or  placed in a playground, play area or  park.  Look through the in between spaces of the top and see the sky, clouds, sun, moon and stars, and maybe a rainbow.  

     Children may sign their names to the sukkah with chalk, crayon or paint, draw pictures and designs and put photos inside and out.   The special sukkah becomes a keepsake.  One day the pre-school can line up a few years worth of sukkahs  for a sukkah parade.  Older kids can line up past sukkahs for a sukkah fest.  Possibilities are endless.  Just think outside the box—or booth!  Here’s a chance to show that “Sukkahs R Us”.

     Individual/table top sukkahs may also form a collection from which to elicit smiles in future years.  How about gingerbread booths?  Or pop-up sukkah cards?  Creativity abounds on this wonderful holiday.  

     When children associate the sukkahs with fun and creativity, one day their children will likely follow suit.  It’s a l’dor v’dor concept.  Note the example of my bubbe and zadeh’s sukkah, to my parents tabletop sukkah, to our  patio sukkah, to sukkot for the grandchildren.  This illustrates a Succoth and sukkah “train” on a journey in Judaism.  L’dor v’dor, generation to generation.   “Judaism R Us”.  Chag  sameach.  Happy holiday.

Bebe Lavin writes the Bubbe Misehs column for TNS.  She is a free lance writer in Bexley and the director of Words Work, a writing company.