Milken Celebrates Sukkot
Throughout the beginning of October, Milken students prepared for and celebrated Sukkot, the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles. The holiday commemorates the Israelites living in temporary dwellings during their years in the desert. Through several community building activities, students were reminded of their ancestors’ journey and their reliance on G-d to provide them with protection. The Upper School held a sukkot build and overnight, while the Middle School had a sukkot design challenge and wrapped up the holiday with a joyful Simchat Torah celebration.
Ninth Grade Sukkot Build & Overnight
The ninth graders began their Sukkot celebration with the second annual sukkot build on October 4. The twelfth grade Vatikim (senior mentors) led the ninth graders in starting construction of the sukkot they would sleep in during the Grade 9 Sukkot Overnight. Students worked together, holding portions of the metal pipes, tightening screws, and helping to erect the frames. “Putting each individual pipe into the proper holder was challenging and seemed unhelpful in the greater scheme of things. Once people started working together, helping each other complete the different components of building the sukkah, it flowed much nicer, and we were able to see huge steps towards achieving our goal,” reflected Vatik Logan Shalit ’18. The Operations Team finished off the sukkot, adding the walls and roof. The sukkot adhered to the guidelines of having at least three walls and a roof (schach) that provides more shade than sun, but enough empty space to see the stars at night. Director of Experiential Learning Lauren Miller noted, “By building and decorating the sukkot together, ninth graders and twelfth grade Vatikim created the sacred spaces where they dwelled at the Sukkot Lock-In. What a meaningful experience for them to share, and what a fun expression of our holiday."
On Tuesday, October 10, the ninth graders and Vatikim participated in the Sukkot Overnight, the first of many Milken overnights they will experience. It was a unique opportunity for students to celebrate Sukkot by eating and sleeping in a sukkah. The Torah commands Jews to be joyous in the sukkah during the holiday. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students to fulfill these mitzvot with their classmates.
The moderate evening temperature made for a comfortable night of outdoor activities. The evening began with music, lots of it. Everyone showed off their dance moves at the lively dance party led by the Vatikim in the amphitheater; no wallflowers here. Spiritual Practice teacher Nachum Peterseil led a community drum circle and students clapped along to the dynamic beat.
The ninth graders and Vatikim bonded during a storytelling activity and shared emotional and uplifting personal stories of when they had ventured out of their comfort zone.
There was something for everyone in the sukkot. Yoga, candy sukkah building, tribal art, backgammon, singing, an escape room, and a chairs game were among the activities offered. Students could also sing their hearts out at the class council-led karaoke activity.
Before bedtime, there was an ushpizin (Aramaic for ancestral guests, who are invited to visit in the sukkah) activity where each student brought a picture and shared a personal story about one person they wanted to invite into their sukkah. It was a good reminder to students that all guests are welcomed into the sukkah. “During the ushpizin most of the kids shared pictures of their friends, which I thought was very meaningful because it showed how close they all were,” noted Vatik Taylor Feldman ’18.
A common refrain among students was the Overnight brought classmates closer together. Aaron Neman ’21, who is in his first year at Milken, remarked, “The Sukkot Overnight was a great chance to meet new people and really connect with my classmates. It’s great that there is a program like this. They don’t have this in public school.” Dylan Shabbouei ’21 agreed, and added, “My favorite part was being able to connect with the seniors. It really made made us a closer community.” Ninth Grade Class President Mika Cohen echoed the sentiment and noted, “The Sukkot overnight was a fantastic experience for me. I got closer to a lot of new people. When we all ate dinner together in the Sukkah, we got to know each other better, and now I feel more connected to the kids in my grade.”
Grade 9 Service Day
Fresh off their overnight, the freshman gathered the next morning for breakfast at the Guerin Family Institute for Advanced Sciences. There, they had the Grade 9 Service Day orientation preparing them for the day ahead. In the spirit of Sukkot, students engaged with some of the most vulnerable members of society and volunteered at five service sites: Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission, Bessie Pregerson Child Development Center of the Salvation Army, The West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Campus, LA Kitchen, and Atria Senior Living Community. The purpose of the day was to introduce freshman to service opportunities in their community.
Fresh off their overnight, the freshman gathered the next morning for breakfast at the Guerin Family Institute for Advanced Sciences. There, they had the Grade 9 Service Day orientation preparing them for the day ahead. In the spirit of Sukkot, students engaged with some of the most vulnerable members of society and volunteered at five service sites: Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission, Bessie Pregerson Child Development Center of the Salvation Army, The West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Campus, LA Kitchen, and Atria Senior Living Community. The purpose of the day was to introduce freshman to service opportunities in their community.
Students conversed and connected over board games with senior residents at Atria. At the VA Assisted Living Community, activities included bedside visits, lively bingo games, and discussions on current events. Students also led a prayer for healing and a prayer for our country. Volunteers prepped meals to be delivered to low income seniors and children, at L.A. Kitchen. Students served guests attending a luncheon at Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission, and also distributed sack lunches they prepared earlier in the day, with notes of encouragement inside. It was a joyous atmosphere at The Salvation Army Bessie and David Pregerson Child Development Center, as students interacted with pre-K children on the playground and in the classroom. They also provided snacks and brought art supplies.
Middle School Holds Sukkah Design Challenge
Middle School students also exercised their creative chops, designing and building their own sukkot, in the “Sukkah Design Challenge.” Held over the course of four days, the sukkot were completed on Wednesday, October 4. Each advisory built a sukkah out of recycled and upcycled materials based on the following criteria: they must have at least 2.5 walls, a roof made out of an organic material, and more shade than sun. The sukkah also had to fit the smallest person in each group. Each sukkah reflected a theme or cause. Among those represented, were breast cancer awareness, wounded veterans, health and disease awareness, and community.
“By the end of four days of tinkering and building, the Middle School campus was adorned with all kinds of Sukkot, truly embodying the Torah's idea of Sukkot being "the time of our joy," observed Middle School Rabbi Aaron Finkelstein.
Awards were given to the following advisory groups on Monday, October 9.
Most Inventive: Hawkins Family - the sukkah built for kids with even a reading nook and slide
Best/Most creative use of recycled materials: Badgen - the sukkah built to celebrate veterans
Best Teamwork: Dominguez - the sukkah built by the most cooperative team
Best Demonstration of a theme: Raff - the sukkah that goes from insecure to secure
Judge’s Award: Madkernino - the sukkah demonstrating food insecurity and the caveats
Judge’s Award: Miller - the sukkah that has room for everyone
Simchat Torah Celebration
At the conclusion of Sukkot, the Middle School held its first Simchat Torah celebration in many years on Wednesday, October 11. The seventh and eighth graders gathered in the amphitheater for the festive event affirming the importance of Torah in Jewish life. Humanities Teacher Steve Parmalee taught about the importance of coming together as a community to stay strong and resolute in the face of loss.
"At the end of the Torah, the Hebrew people must find the strength to continue their journey even though their leader, Moses, died. Likewise, students and adults need to show resilience and grit in overcoming obstacles in their own lives. Middle school students were taught the value of community during difficult times," explained Parmalee.
Students unrolled two Torah scrolls, which stretched the perimeter of the basketball court. Student readers, Gabi Bekhrad ’22, Garrett Cooper ’22, Noah Rinsler ’22, and Natalie Shaby ’23, who prepared several weeks in advance, chanted the final few verses of the Torah (Deuteronomy chapter 34, about the death of Moses) and the first few verses of the Torah (Genesis chapter 1, about creation) in Hebrew. Following the readings, everyone joyously sang and danced with the Torah and enjoyed ice cream sandwiches and popsicles.
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