by Daniel Narvy
In the midst of Chol Hamoed, the intermediate days of the holiday of Sukkot, Chabad of UCI hosted "Pizza in the Hut", a 3 hour lunch activity immersing students, both Jewish and Non-Jewish, religious and secular, in the traditions and customs of Sukkot, the 8 day harvest festival that ends with Simchat Torah, the completion and start of a yearlong torah reading. In Pizza in the Hut, Rabbi Zevi and his wife Rebbitzin Miriam brought kosher pizza from Los Angeles to the "hut", the Sukka Rabbi Zevi and several students helped build on Ring Road next to the flag poles. Over lunch, students of various backgrounds learned about the holiday and the related customs.
The event helped convey the warm, welcoming Jewish environment UC Irvine truly has, despite its anti-Semitic reputation. Not only was the Sukka built on one of the most popular parts on campus, but it was treated with upmost respect from students of all religions and backgrounds. Students from the Armenian Club, the Indian Club, the Evangelical Club, to name only a few, all stopped by to learn about the significance of the holiday, while Jewish Students had the chance to waive the lulav and etrog, to eat in the Sukkah and say the related blessings.
Overall, the event was a great success in promoting Jewish life on campus. The Non-Jews got to take a peek into the fun, exciting aspects of Judaism while learning a few traditions, while the Jewish students who showed up were able to get a few extra Mitzvah points