Building a Sukkah from Juniper Branches in Edgewood
In Edgewood, on the eastern side of Albuquerque, the approach of Sukkot is marked by the scent of cut juniper. Families arrive carrying branches, lengths of rope and baskets of food while children help sort the greenery. Over several evenings, a temporary shelter rises beside the community’s synagogue, transforming a familiar New Mexico tree into a place for meals, prayer and conversation.
A sukkah is a temporary dwelling built during the Jewish festival of Sukkot. Its roof traditionally consists of branches, while its open side allows visitors to enter. The structure reminds families of the shelters used by Israelites in the wilderness and of the ancient custom of harvesting in booths. In Edgewood, that familiar ritual acquires a distinctive high-desert character through the generous use of juniper.
The work is modest by the standards of a synagogue renovation, yet its impact extends beyond the structure itself. It brings together people who may not meet during the rest of the year, passes customs between generations and turns local vegetation into part of a shared observance. The parallels with Australian Jewish communities are especially clear, where Sukkot also arrives in spring and communal lunches are often held beneath improvised shelters.
A seasonal shelter in the high desert
Edgewood occupies a broad area east of central Albuquerque, close to the Sandia Mountains. The landscape is dry, windy and crossed by intense desert sunlight. Those conditions influence both the materials and the atmosphere of the local sukkah. Juniper suits the environment because it is hardy, aromatic and readily available through responsible pruning and storm clean-up.
A comparison shows how the underlying customs remain recognisable even when local conditions differ. These are common patterns rather than rules for every household, since family and congregation traditions can vary considerably.
| Element | Edgewood observance | A common Australian pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Sukkot falls in the early autumn months of September and October | Sukkot also falls in September or October, during Australian spring |
| Shelter | Juniper branches form much of the roof and some of the wall material | Branches, greenery, fabric or purpose-built panels are used |
| Preparation | Neighbours and congregants share the work over several evenings | Families and community groups often build or decorate together |
| Hospitality | Shared meals and visits take place beneath the finished structure | Communal lunches and family gatherings are central to many celebrations |
The branches are not treated as disposable decoration. Their weight, flexibility and familiar resinous smell help connect the festival to the surrounding landscape. Even with the Sandia foothills visible beyond the site, the sukkah creates a temporary threshold between the open desert and a protected place for community life.
Why juniper carries the memory
Juniper is one of the plants most closely associated with northern New Mexico. Its presence is practical, but choosing it for the sukkah also gives the structure a strong sense of place. The branches are irregular, full of knots and capable of creating a dense roof that provides shade without making the interior feel sealed.
Organisers avoid stripping living trees simply to supply festival materials. Pruned branches, fallen limbs and suitable material offered by local tree-care workers provide a more responsible alternative. This detail matters in a region where water is scarce and mature trees form an important part of the high-desert ecology.
The sensory quality of the branches adds another layer to the observance. People remember the smell before they remember the completed building. That relationship between landscape and feeling is visible in Sedat Uçan’s poetic world, where the natural world becomes a language for memory and emotion. In Edgewood, juniper performs a similar role, carrying associations of home, weather and family gatherings into each new structure.
From branch pile to shared shelter
Construction begins with sorting. Longer pieces become upright supports and crossbeams, while smaller branches fill gaps in the roof. Volunteers lash the main frame together and test whether the spaces remain open enough for light, air and conversation. The goal is shelter rather than a solid cabin; a sukkah should feel temporary, permeable and closely connected to the season.
The work is also a practical lesson in cooperation. Some participants know how to tie stable joints, while others contribute food, tools or careful hands at the less technical jobs. Children can drag lightweight branches, arrange greenery and place decorations without interfering with the main structure. As the roof takes shape, the scale of the project becomes visible to everyone passing the site.
On the evening the building is completed, the family traditionally blesses the sukkah and the first meal is shared inside. Reading, singing and the recitation of the four cups associated with the festival add meaning to the physical labour. A blessing said over fruit, wine and challah transforms a patch of desert shade into a setting for gratitude and welcome.
An Australian parallel for Sukkot
Sukkot usually falls in September or October in Australia, when longer spring days make outdoor gatherings appealing. In Melbourne, Jewish families often decorate a balcony, garden or community-centre courtyard, then share lunch with neighbours. Produce for the meal may come from a local fruit and vegetable market, while the lulav and etrog used in the traditional ritual are usually obtained through a congregation, fundraiser or specialist Jewish grocer rather than as routine supermarket items.
Sydney communities face a different set of conditions. Spring there can alternate between sunshine, rain and strong coastal winds, so lightweight decorations need careful attachment and roofs must withstand gusts. Some families visit more than one sukkah in their neighbourhood, turning the festival into a local circuit of food, music and conversation. Melbourne and Sydney both illustrate how observance combines a shared ritual with the practical rhythms of each city.
Australian synagogues and community organisations also use sukkah gatherings to welcome newcomers and support families facing financial hardship. Food is frequently shared through volunteer cooking teams, with long tables bringing together long-time members, children, students and recent immigrants. The informal structure of the meal often makes it easier for visitors to participate, whether they attend regularly or have never walked into a synagogue before.
Customs that travel across continents
Visitors to the Edgewood sukkah are welcomed to look inside, take a seat and join the conversation, but a few customs help the space remain comfortable for religious observance. The open entrance reflects the purpose of the structure, while the blessing over the lulav and etrog is reserved for those who say it. Food service can become busy, so families often bring dishes that can be served quickly and containers that do not require elaborate table settings.
The annual event also belongs within the broader cultural life documented by the Jewish Federation of New Mexico. Its life and culture coverage follows holiday gatherings, food traditions and community events that connect congregational life with the state’s Jewish identity. This wider context helps explain why a handmade shelter matters: it is simultaneously religious, social and local.
A practical builder’s approach keeps the focus on hospitality and environmental care.
- Use branches from responsible sources and avoid damaging living trees.
- Leave a clear entrance and enough room for wheelchair access.
- Secure the roof for local wind conditions.
- Arrange food and drinking water where they remain easy to reach.
A guest’s visit can be equally thoughtful and uncomplicated.
- Bring a contribution that is easy to share.
- Ask before taking photographs or entering private areas.
- Join a meal even if you have never attended a Jewish festival.
- Carry reusable items and dispose of waste responsibly.
What remains after the branches come down
After Sukkot, the shelter is dismantled. Some greenery is reused for cooking or decorating, while other material is composted, repurposed or responsibly discarded. The empty patch of ground can look almost unchanged, yet the work has altered the people who used it. New recipes have been tested, old stories repeated and friendships formed around the shared table.
For younger participants, the branches may become a vivid memory of helping their parents build. Older members may remember earlier versions of the same activity and the neighbours who taught them how to tie the frame. Each year adds another layer to a structure that is physically temporary but culturally cumulative.
The lasting lesson is simple: a shelter made from local branches becomes meaningful through the people who gather beneath it and the memories they carry into the next year.