Editor,

Adam R. Burnett’s article, “Sukkot makes joyful noise,” in the Oct. 12 issue, contained a number of factual errors and misleading statements that deserve clarification.
First, Sukkot is a Jewish Holiday that has been celebrated continuously and joyfully by the mainstream Jewish community for thousands of years. The celebration portrayed in Burnett‘s article bears little resemblance to Sukkot as practiced in such communities.
Second, Sukkot is a weeklong holiday which occurs during the fall on the 15th day of Tishrei in the Jewish calendar, following the Jewish high holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
The celebration as covered in the Daily Lobo is a Christian interpretation of an unarguably Jewish celebration. Although Dennis Otero may refer to himself as “rabbi,” this is an inappropriate designation for a Christian religious leader. Moreover, belief in Yeshua as the Messiah, as Dennis Otero asserts, is antithetical to the core practice and philosophy of Judaism.
Contrary to what is stated in the article, the festival of Sukkot is widely and publicly celebrated in Jewish communities across the state of New Mexico.
It is bewildering to us that the Daily Lobo chose to incorrectly and inappropriately showcase a private religious celebration in the daily paper of the state’s largest public university. Moreover, one would expect that the reporter and editor would recognize the controversial
nature of this celebration, and seek comment from at least one congregation or leader from New Mexico’s Jewish community.

Shlomo Karni
UNM professor emeritus

Rabbi Min Kantrowitz
Community Chaplain
Jewish Family of New Mexico

Kathryn Weil
Head of School
Solomon Schechter Day School

Sam Sokolove
Executive Director
Jewish Federation of New Mexico