BYU’s relationship with Judaism is no new phenomenon. As a deeply religious university, BYU has a long history of fostering religious discussion and interdenominational unity. The school’s Latter-day Saint roots give BYU students a meaningful understanding of religion’s importance in their lives.
This spiritual sensitivity has led to tender expressions of BYU’s religious empathy. Superstar quarterback Jake Retzlaff is one of the very few Jewish students at BYU. The football team, eager to support Retzlaff, got involved in the week-long Jewish holiday of Sukkot. The team enjoyed a local kosher food truck and a Sukkah (a mobile home-away-from-home used during Sukkot).
The football players aren’t the only ones doing this. Recently, Continuing Education hosted a religious podcast summit with creators from across the country. The Continuing Education Events team took it upon themselves to construct a Sukkah onsite, helping Jewish attendees observe their faith and connect with God. The Continuing Education team carted Sukkah materials to each of the conference’s events, going as far as to bring the materials up a mountain. Jewish attendees were extraordinarily grateful.
Lex Rofeberg, one of the event’s guests, shared the following on Facebook after the event:
"I had the unbelievable joy and privilege of participating in a podcast for religion and spirituality podcasters across a wide variety of traditions. There's a lot to say about how special this group was (and I probably will say some of it), but for another time.
The main thing is this: BYU (Brigham Young University) hosted this amazing gathering. It occurred during Sukkot—which they knew as early as almost-a-year beforehand. There were 5 Jewish participants in this gathering of a few dozen people.
The staff at BYU CARTED SUKKAH MATERIALS UP A LITERAL MOUNTAIN (our programming was on top of a beautiful mountain for the first full day of the conference) and built a sukkah on top of said mountain for the sake of 5 Jewish guests to be able to eat in it. The next day, at lunch, we were no longer on the mountain. There was somehow, again, a Sukkah directly next to where we were eating lunch. Because they wanted us to be able to eat in the Sukkah *again*. So they had carted the Sukkah materials DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, and rebuilt the Sukkah for us. We never asked for this—they did it on their own, because they wanted to be gracious hosts.
I will never forget this incredible act. What's wild about is when I expressed my incredulity at how they pulled this off, they reacted as if this was the most obvious, natural thing to do ever. There were Jewish guests, so they provide a space for them to mark Sukkot.
This is an incredible model for what it means to be in community with other people (inter-religiously or otherwise), and to show love and respect across difference. I'll never stop being inspired by it."
BYU Continuing Education's dedication to constructing a Sukkah for Jewish attendees during the recent podcast summit provided a space for spiritual observance and demonstrated a genuine respect for diverse traditions. We hope this example of conscientious interfaith uplift reflects a much larger, divinely driven commitment.
