Jerusalem Sukkot Ready or Not

Sukkot.

Ten years ago, the first RJS blog was published on Sukkot – Holiday Crowds in Jerusalem.

The holiday season crowds in Jerusalem, Israel, have arrived again.

The first day of the holiday was a beautiful day, but the next day there was a sound and and light show the likes of  I have never seen in Jerusalem.

Thunder and lightning went on and on, long enough to finally get a good video on the 7th attempt.

Open sukkah with President Shimon Peres

The late President Shimon Peres hosted the Beit Hanasi open houses back in the early days of RJS.

Beit Hanasi sukka decorating with Ruvi Rivlin and children

This year President Reuven Rivlin invited children into his sukkah to help him decorate.

Israeli Presidential cat in garden at Beit Hanasi

The Presidential Cat was in the garden to supervise.

Sukkah at Beit Hanasi for the Israel President

Children were busy making decorations and paper chains.

As Sukkot holiday approaches in Jerusalem,

Lookup!

Jerusalem building with a sukkah

Sukkot are popping out on porches,

Jerusalem sukkah on a porch made of wood

on a low balcony,

Jerusalem sukkah on a porch

or on stilts to support the sukkah as it extends off the porch.

Jerusalem large sukkah for a restaurant

Restaurants need a large sukkah to accommodate holiday crowds.

The sukkot in the above photos have bamboo mats used on top as s’chach. 

Jerusalem boy cutting palm branch for top of sukkah

This is the time of year in Jerusalem to trim the palm trees, so that the large branches can be put on top of the sukkah.

sukkos

Searching for the perfect species in the main market near Machane Yehuda is an annual sight.

Sukkos in Jerusalem people selling lulav and estrog

In Jerusalem, also, popup shops for lulav and etrog were easy to find.

Sukkot birchat kohanim 5780 at Kotel

Tens of thousands gathered at the Kotel, the Western Wall, for Birchat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing which was broadcast live.

These were the usual sights throughout Jerusalem, Israel this week.

But I will end with ‘not your average sukkah’  –

Sukka photo, Image unusual sukkah

While nothing has been quite like this sukkah on a camel from years ago,

here is another unique sukkah, outside of Heichal Shlomo on King George Street.

Sukkah for Jerusalem Biennale reflective on King George Street

As part of the Jerusalem Biennale, is this ‘reflective sukkah’. The outside walls work as distorted mirrors. Look closely, see if you can find me in the photo?

The plaza in front of the Great Synagogue is in the background.

I hope this last photograph does not make you dizzy.

This week of Sukkot holiday meals and the overwhelming number of events did make me dizzy.

So much happening on the Jerusalem streets on Sukkot!

And you never know what will happen next.

Thunder and lightning on Monday night and again on Tuesday afternoon!

Jerusalem Sukkot thunder and lightning storm on Sukkot

When they say something moves as fast as lightning, yes, it moves fast and is hard to capture.

Many sukkot were blown down in the stormy weather.

Jerusalem home sukkah

I am now more satisfied to share this year’s modest decorations.

Happy that our sukkah is still standing!

Moadim L’simcha! 

 

 

9 thoughts on “Jerusalem Sukkot Ready or Not

  • October 16, 2019 at 10:13 am
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    Chag Sameach le Sukkot!
    Thank you so much for your inspiring text and photos. I will share both with my group who travelled with me in Jerusalem, around Judea and Galilee this spring.
    A always enjoy your posts. It keeps my longing to come back to Jerusalem along with good friendship even more than just remembering.

    Brachot rabot and Shabbat Shalom
    Christiane from Germany

    Reply
    • October 16, 2019 at 10:15 am
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      Christianne, Thank you so much for your inspiring comment. Hope you do get back soon to Jerusalem!

      Reply
  • October 16, 2019 at 10:37 pm
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    thank you for sharing I love seeing the sights of Israel.

    Reply
    • October 17, 2019 at 3:52 am
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      Sarah – Thank you for taking the time to comment. So glad to hear from you, feel free to share posts. Moadim L’Simcha and Shabbat Shalom

      Reply
  • October 17, 2019 at 12:12 pm
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    Beautiful ten wonderful and insightful years. Thank you for the positive message from Jerusalem each week. Reliable, factual, good news!
    Yes I found you in that mirrored sukkah photo. Your photography is spectacular. Glad your sukkah didn’t blow down

    Bayle

    Reply
    • October 17, 2019 at 1:06 pm
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      Thank you! There are so many good things happening, it is hard to keep up! It is a shame how any negative event gets all the headlines. Shabat shalom

      Reply
  • October 18, 2019 at 5:11 am
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    Thank you for all your posts as they are interesting and informative.
    I truly appreciate receiving them.
    Shabbat Shalom, Moadim L’Simcha, Chag Sameach

    Reply
    • October 18, 2019 at 10:55 am
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      Ruth Thank you! Always good to hear your work is appreciated, Shabbat Shalom Moadim L’Simcah and Chag Sameach to you and yours.

      Reply
  • Pingback: Jerusalem Sukkot Highlights – The Real Jerusalem Streets

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