family eats their Sukkot meals in the sukkah to remember their Name ancestors.

Grandpa and Jacob's father always built their sukkah in the back yard. The sukkah was only about 8 feet by 8 feet when it was done, Sukkot Surprise but it was cozy. It was perfect for a family picnic! After the sukkah was finished, everyone decorated it. They hung plastic fruit on the By Colleen Messina walls, which were made out of blankets stapled on to a wooden frame. They propped up corn stalks around the door. Tree branches Jacob lay in bed. The warm smell of made the roof. They put pictures on the walls inside. roasting pumpkin seeds reminded Jacob that it was Sukkot! His mother and The family hung a sign outside the little house that said Baruhh younger brother, Joseph, got up early to ha-ba. The words meant "welcome" in Hebrew. Jacob felt a pang make a stuffed pumpkin. Joseph still liked when he saw his father's neat Hebrew lettering. His father had died to scoop out the inside slimy goop with last year. his bare hands. Then, they roasted the seeds. They mixed the roasted seeds, "When is Grandpa coming?" Jacob asked. Grandpa was full of raisins, and chocolate chips and put the jokes. His crinkly eyes exploded with wit. mix inside the pumpkin, which was lined with foil. It was Jacob's favorite Sukkot "Grandpa will be here soon. The cousins are coming at 3 pm.," treat. said Jacob's mother. She loved to cook. Seven-year-old Joseph helped her and jumped up and down. Jacob felt a bit lost. Was he Jacob felt only mildly excited about Sukkot this year. He thought just getting too old for all of this? He missed his father. about the autumn Jewish festival as he rolled out of bed. He looked out his window at the crispy leaves that scraped against the pane like A knock made Joseph stumble to the door. He tripped on Dreidel, orange corn flakes. Sukkot was fun. They ate great food for nine the round ball of useless fluff otherwise known as the family cat. She days! Grandpa Isaac and the cousins came over. They went to their yowled in protest. He opened the door. Grandpa came in with a synagogue. After the service, they all carried palms, willow branches, whoosh of crisp September air. He brought his toolbox and good and citrus fruits and sang songs. It was a happy time! humor.

Jacob always felt a little smug in school when his teachers began "Hi kids!" he said. He gave Joseph and Jacob big hugs. to talk about Thanksgiving. Jacob secretly thought that the Pilgrims read about Sukkot in the Bible. Maybe Sukkot inspired the Pilgrims After a quick cup of coffee, Grandpa was ready to go to work. to have their own harvest festival! He never said that to his Christian Joseph went back to the kitchen, while Grandpa studied his plans. He friends. used the same ones each year. Jacob had already brought the 2 x 4s and blankets into the back yard. He made a pile of tree branches to Sukkot, which is also called the Feast of Tabernacles, reminds use for the roof. He even got his father's hammer out of the garage. It Jews about how the Israelites wandered in the desert. The Israelites had always seemed so heavy to him when he was younger. Grandpa finally reached the Promised Land after forty years. They became looked thoughtful. farmers and grew green olives, golden wheat, and purple grapes. "I am an expert at this, but I need help," he said with a chuckle. Jacob went downstairs. He sleepily poured some cereal in a bowl. "One of my favorite Yiddish proverbs is 'If you ever need a helping Soon his grandpa would arrive to build their sukkah. Jacob, who was hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.' My problem is that I now fourteen, usually just watched. The sukkah was a little house. It need more than one hand! Can you help me, Jacob?" symbolized the wooden huts the Jews built in their fields during their harvest. The sukkah protected them in sudden storms. Every Jewish Jacob shrugged. His dad used to help Grandpa. He looked at his 4. What does the sukkah symbolize? Name A. no more suffering B. God's protection C. a housing crisis D. that poor people are closer to God Grandpa and realized that they were all feeling a bit lost without his dad. 5. What body part was mentioned in Grandpa Isaac's proverb?

Then Jacob remembered the Sukkot stories he had heard since he A. noses was little. The sukkah was an open building. Stars twinkled through B. hands the branches of the roof. Wind passes through the little house easily. C. feet It reminded Jews not to remove themselves from the suffering of D. ears others. The sukkah also was a symbol of God's protection. Jacob felt that God would protect his family even without his dad. 6. What is another name for Sukkot? A. Feast of Stuffed Pumpkins "Sure, Grandpa, I'd love to help you!" said Jacob as he picked up B. Feast of Thanksgiving his father's hammer. The smooth, cool steel felt oddly comforting, C. Feast of Little Houses and it seemed much lighter than before. D. Feast of the Tabernacles 7. What language do Jews use in their faith? Sukkot Surprise A. Hebrew B. English Questions C. Italian D. Latin 1. Which holiday does Sukkot most closely resemble? 8. What does the lightness of the hammer at the end of the story A. Christmas symbolize? B. Easter A. that the hammer was wearing out C. Halloween B. that Jacob was older D. Thanksgiving C. that Jacob was stronger 2. How long did the Israelites wander in the desert? D. that Jacob felt a little better about his father's death A. 40 years B. 400 years C. 4,000 years Describe what it might be like to wander in the desert for years. Write D. 4 years a detailed description of how you might experience the desert with all of your senses. 3. How long does the Sukkot celebration last? A. 1 month B. 9 days C. 10 days D. 1 day The ritual of building the sukkah seemed to help Jacob deal with his Name loss. Why do you think that performing a familiar act is comforting when you experience a great loss?