The students rushed into the Hillel house last night grabbing dried fruit and gourds, fruit shaped candles, blankets and strings of lights.

They ran back outside to start decorating the Sukkah.

Today is the beginning of Sukkot, a seven-day harvest festival that is celebrated by building a two-to-three walled structure with a loose roof. The Sukkah is symbolic of the journey described in the book Exodus when the Israelites wandered the desert for 700 miles and 40 years, Hillel’s Assistant Director Michael Levinstein said.

“I’ve done this every year,” junior English major David Sugerman said. “I just love the fall harvest in general. Every culture has their own holiday during the fall with the harvest, and this is my personal tradition.”

Sugerman stood on a ladder and half sang rock songs as he strung the lights along the wooden ceiling. Other students hung up the gourds and fruit along the walls with fishing line and ribbons. Junior anthropology major Beverly Coon hung a blanket on the wall.

Hillel is continuing the Sukkot celebration by bringing a Sukkah and free food to Risman Plaza at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. The celebration is continuing Thursday with the Hookah in the Sukkah party at Hillel on Lincoln Street.

Contact religion reporter April Samuelson at [email protected].