sukkot

this weekend is the jewish celebration of the festival of booths, or sukkot. to celebrate the historical significance of the wandering of the israelites in the wilderness for 40 years, jewish folk are instructed to build a fort in the backyard and live there for a few days. what a stellar celebration! it cannot be a tent because it's supposed to have a sort of open roof made of branches. it's got to be a sort of boxy thing - a booth - with a natural roof. you're supposed to be able to see the stars through, but if it starts to rain, you're supposed to cover the entire thing up and not use it. it's got to be open for it to satisfy the mitzvah. there is a lot to be said for a higher power who wants you to go sleep outside.