Source: St. Petersburg Times
On October 21, 2000, the St. Petersburg Times reported that "Temple Beth David recently had its annual Sukkah raising and decorating party. The eight-day festival is known as Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles. The festival is celebrated in September or October. In addition to celebrating the harvest, it also commemorates the end of the Jews' slavery in Egypt and the their 40 years in the desert before coming to Israel. A sukkah is the name for their sleeping quarters. The raising of the Sukkah is done primarily by the temple's youngsters, ages 5 through 16, who are supervised by the temple's Sukkah builder, Richard Satz, a retired design engineer from New Jersey who moved to Spring Hill six years ago. 'The Sukkah was something they developed from sticks and stones in the desert to create a portable shelter, and the tradition never died,' Satz said. It was something which could be erected and taken apart in minutes each night and morning. It was carried on their backs all day until stopping for the night. 'The roof cannot be sealed or waterproofed,' Satz said. 'We must (be able to) see the stars because God is watching, and we don't want to block him out. There was no cold so they didn't have substantial sides and no floor.' The booth serves as a reminder of the temporary endurance of material buildings as opposed to the permanent and abiding strength of God and the heavenly shelter he promises."