lulav

Erev Sukkot in Jerusalem

rjstreets

The Sukkot holiday season begins early in Jerusalem, Israel.

sukkos,

Starting before Yom Kippur, in every empty lot,

like mushrooms popping up, there are sukkot for sale.

shach on car

The early bird gets the good schach for the top of their sukkah

and the top of the car is the way to get it home.

Space is limited,

sukkos

 so you’ve got to grab your spot early and get your sukkah up.

sukkah, sukka sleeping

Some people really move into their sukkah for the week, 

decorating and sleeping in comfort.

sukkah on camel

 This sukkah on a camel is a favorite photo,

but would anyone really want to sleep in one?

sukkos

It takes time to shop and select the perfect specimens of lulavim

estrog

and etrogim for the holidays.

sign hebrew

Sukkot happenings are too many to list, but I liked this new sign.

Meanwhile, this year

for sale sings

 there are plenty of “For sale” signs in time for the invasion of tourists.

The New Year messages,

bus holiday sign

will switch to the Chag Samaech, Happy Holiday ones and

Jerusalem street

some very busy shopping areas will close for all the days of Sukkot.

holiday cookies

But we are expecting a lot of guests,  

so it’s back to the kitchen, because one day of baking will not last long. 

coke bottle

Chag Samaech!

10 Sukkot Favorites

rjstreets

Signs of the Sukkot holiday can be found before Yom Kippur,

but as the fast day ends serious holiday preparations begin.

Here are the ten best ways to tell the Sukkot holiday is approaching:

1. Sukkot begin to fill outdoor porches,

open spaces,

  any 3 walls not under a tree or overhang is covered with schach, becomes a sukkah.

2. Stands selling colorful decorations for the sukkah pop up all over.

3. Number three is lulav shopping.

It can be done in a supermarket,

but for serious consumers

there are special markets for the arba minim.

Rows of etrogim

and piles of hadasim and aravot.

Each item is carefully

examined and studied

for perfect specimens.

4. Finding the right holiday clothing is a must.

5. Family reunions for the holiday are a good reason to smile.

6. Shopping and cooking for all those guests becomes a major task.

7. Police security check in Machane Yehuda market, the shuk goes to the dogs.

8. With thousands of extra visitors and shoppers, traffic jams are a regular sight.

9. An Elvis impersonator singing on a shopping strip is not a regular sight,

just a sign that you never know what to expect in Jerusalem.

10. Recently, this sign had been at another intersection, then reappeared here,

“To all!

The holy Jewish people have a responsibility of unity

and unconditional love

please!”

  I do not know who posted it, but the message is an interesting one.

Random acts of violence have increased over the last week.

However, for most people it is hard not to notice that the holiday season is here.

Chag Sameach

Happy holidays!