Pepperdine Honors Jewish Community at Sukkah of Faith and Solidarity Event
In honor of the eight-day Jewish festival of Sukkot, the Jewish Law Students Association, in partnership with the Nootbaar Institute for Law, Religion, and Ethics, hosted the Sukkah of Faith and Solidarity event earlier this month—a special gathering that celebrated the rich traditions of the sacred holiday while honoring the memory of the victims of the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel. Sukkot commemorates the 40 years the Israelites spent wandering in the desert after their exodus from Egypt, when they lived in temporary shelters, or “sukkot.” The holiday is a joyful, community-centered celebration of gratitude, faith, and God’s enduring protection.
Held on the front lawn of the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, the event featured remarks from University leadership, including president Jim Gash (JD '93), Duane and Kelly Roberts Dean of the Caruso School of Law Paul Caron, and vice president for Spiritual Life Timothy Spivey ('97, MS '00, MDiv '00), as well as from distinguished Jewish faith leaders and representatives of the State of Israel, including Israel Bachar, Consul General of Israel, Rabbi Sholom Eagle, Nootbaar Institute Scholar-in-Residence, and Rabbi Matt Rosenberg, chief operating officer at the Jewish Grad Organization. The gathering took place beneath a sukkah—a symbolic structure that served as a powerful reminder of the holiday’s deeper themes of remembrance, resilience, and faith.
University President Jim Gash
“The sukkah is fragile by design—a reminder of the frailty of life and the reality that we depend—every one of us—on God’s shelter,” explained President Gash during the event. “It is also a sign of courage: the courage of a people who have carried memory and hope across generations, and who, even through trials, choose faith. It is a reminder of God’s faithfulness to us in the past, and an encouragement for us to trust his faithfulness in the Future.”
According to Gash, the event served as a testament to Pepperdine’s commitment to supporting its Jewish community and highlighted the enduring value and strength these traditions bring to campus—reminding the broader community of what it means to live with faith and greater purpose. Gash emphasized the importance of honoring and preserving these faith traditions and offered a prayer to the University's Jewish community, that they may find safety and belonging at Pepperdine.
“On a day that remembers both God’s protection and the fragility of life, my prayer is that you feel surrounded by friendship, encouragement, and peace,” shared Gash. “May this sukkah be a place of comfort, of memory, and of enduring hope.”
Event speaker Dean Caron also reflected on the mission and values upon which the University—and its law school—were founded, describing Pepperdine as a “beacon of light” and a vessel for God’s enduring presence.
Garland of Solidarity and Prayer
“Our law school was founded upon a unique fusion of academic excellence and strong Christian faith—a fusion that transforms us and empowers us, to transform the lives of others through our scholarship, our teaching, and our students,” said Caron. “That transformative power comes from our love for God, our love for one another and our love for our students—students of the Christian faith, the Jewish faith, the Muslim faith, all faiths, and no faith at all.”
Reflecting on the tragic events of October 7, Caron spoke about the significance of God’s love in times of turmoil, sharing that it is through faith and trust in God’s enduring goodness that those who suffer will persevere—and that love remains the true source of healing in a broken world.
“It is this love from above—the love of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—that strengthens our students for lives of greater purpose, faithful service, and principled leadership, even in a hostile world,” Caron shared. “This week, we mark the two-year anniversary of the horrific October 7 attacks. The world—both at home and abroad—remains in great turmoil. How should we respond to such violence and grief? As a Christian, I am called to trust in God’s greater purpose of redemption and to respond with love for God and love for one another—even those who see me as an enemy. Love for all, and malice toward none.”
Rabbi Matt Rosenberg
Special guest speaker Rabbi Rosenberg expressed deep appreciation for Pepperdine’s efforts to support its Jewish community and conveyed gratitude for the University’s enduring respect for Jewish faith, heritage, and values that are woven into its mission. He compared Pepperdine to Noah’s Ark, noting that the University has become a “safe haven” for Jewish students as they navigate rising antisemitism across college campuses elsewhere.
Following the program, attendees enjoyed kosher sushi and Israeli cuisine, continuing a Pepperdine tradition of celebrating Sukkot as a time of thanks, connection, and peace.
Learn more about the Nootbaar Institute and upcoming events on the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law website.
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The Herbert and Elinor Nootbaar Institute on Law, Religion, and Ethics was created to explore the nexus between these three disciplines, with particular emphasis on the intersection of faith and law. The Institute encourages the examination of law as a theological vocation from the broad range of Christian, Jewish, and other religious perspectives represented in the law school's students, staff, and faculty.
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