Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

While this may look like an ordinary sukkah, it is an extraordinary one. Due to their ongoing partnership with the Jewish Pavilion, the folks at Atria at Lake Forest wanted to provide their residents with all the traditions of their faith. For Rosh Hashanah they provided a lovely holiday meal where a volunteer from the Jewish Pavilion led a beautiful service. When Activities Director Donna Hilliker talked to Pavilion leadership about Sukkot, she decided to arrange for a sukkah to be erected. This is the first sukkah ever to be erected at a senior facility in Orlando. This sukkah wasn’t built in a day. First the Atria Senior Living maintenance staff built it, then the residents decorated it with the assistance of Jewish Pavilion volunteer Judy Suberman, then Jewish Pavilion volunteer Jerry Liebman recited the blessings.  Everyone had a chance to shake the lulav and smell the fragrant etrog. Before the conclusion of the program Susie Stone blew the shofar; apples, challah and wine was served in the sukkah followed by a delicious Shabbat dinner enjoyed in the dining room at Atria Senior Living.