One year ago, the Jewish Light visited Doug and Caryn Rudman’s ever-changing sukkah. As Sukkot approaches, Doug Rudman prepares to erect the structure behind their house and he plans for what’s inside. Each year, the Rudman sukkah has a specific theme.
The 2024 version marks the 30th year for the tradition, and this time it has a theme borne in nature. That’s because this year’s Rudman sukkah celebrates trees, and specifically the ash tree that grows at the entrance. Ash trees are especially vulnerable to wood-boring beetles and the Rudman’s tree was no exception. Cicadas also did some damage earlier in the year. But thanks to TLC, the tree survived, so Doug Rudman decided to celebrate it and all trees in the sukkah.
“I incorporated the tree as one of the foundational pillars and with the materials, I went from a tree to things derived from a tree,” Rudman said. “To me the theme acknowledges that all resources initially are provided by G-d. And it gives us the ability to use it for shelter and what I hope will be the concept of Sukkot Shalom.”
The Rudmans, who are members of United Hebrew Congregation, have erected the sukkah adjacent to their ash tree since they planted it around 1994, shortly after they moved into the house. Doug Rudman doesn’t always know what the theme of the sukkah will be until he starts erecting it. The ash tree has been around as long as the family’s sukkah tradition, so the theme emerged: “G-d provides.”
As part of that theme, Rudman offers examples of all the ways we benefit from trees.
“You go to the hardware store and buy a piece of lumber,” he said. “That’s something derived from a tree. Paper and twine, all sorts of things can be derived from a tree. They actually make baseball bats out of ash trees. This year’s concept was an acknowledgement that there are things about the tree that we should appreciate.”
