Religious Education Update: October 8, 2006

Celebrating Sukkot (the Jewish Harvest Festival)


The children will be building a sukkah today, and celebrating the bounty of the harvest. They will learn that Jewish families have built sukkot (plural for sukkah) for over three thousand years, in remembrance of the times that their ancestors wandered for 40 years in the desert after escaping slavery in Egypt. Sukkot is also called Festival of the Ingathering to emphasize the importance of hospitality during the holiday. You are invited to come visit their creation after the service.

Reflections on Ramadan-
Last Sunday, the children heard a story about a young Muslim girl celebrating Ramadan in the United States. The girl was the only Muslim in her class, and her classmates didn’t understand why she was fasting, and why she couldn’t eat the birthday treats that another child had brought to school.

I asked the kids, “How do you think it felt to Azeeza to be the only Muslim in her class?’” Our children immediately empathized with Azeeza, and then shared how it feels to be the only Unitarian in a group. Some added that their Christian friends sometimes try to convert them to their own faith.

I learned from our discussion that our children can empathize with others, and readily try to understand the experience of other faith traditions. They know that they are Unitarian Universalists, and are proud to be part of our faith, but are also respectful of of other traditions. On previous Sundays, our children have talked about how they feel it is important for each person to make their own decisions about religious questions.. They usually articulate our faith very well.

I’m very proud of this new generation of Unitarian Universalists.

Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education