Guests coming and not much time to prepare,
so a short and simple
חג שמח
שבת שלום
to all from Jerusalem, Israel.
Sukkot holiday
Favorite New and Old Sukkot for 5775
The holiday of Sukkot,
involves intense preparation,
and checking of many specific details.
As soon as Yom Kippur is over,
sukkot seem to pop up all over.
Thousands of tourists arrive in Jerusalem, Israel,
many want to sleep in a sukka and many more to eat in one.
At the Kings Hotel the familiar sukka is up on the roof
and a simple wooden sukka cna be seen at the King Solomon Hotel.
At the Inbal Hotel, look up for the fancy private sukkot.
This year due to the Formula Road Show,
outside the King David Hotel had a different look,
but the large porch out back was getting ready as usual to be a sukka.
New buildings near the YMCA
have sukkot up on porches and down in the courtyards,
and new Touro restaurant at the Jerusalem Press Club is ready to use.
But also new this year is the Waldorf Astoria Hotel,
where I still have trouble getting past the gorgeous flowers,
and the birds and fountain below.
Their sukka,
in the Atrium
is the new wow must see sukka this season.
I must get to working on holiday details here,
time to clean and decorate our sukka!
I’ll end with two old favorites,
our sukka on a camel photo was posted by Times of Israel on Facebook,
it received so much attention that here it is again.
RJS along with the buses
wishing all a happy holiday.
In Jerusalem, Fulfilling the Zionist Dream
As usual, there is much happening in Jerusalem, Israel.
Jewish community leaders from around the world are gathering
with four major conferences in one week,
including the Board of Governors of Jewish Agency
and the Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly.
There has been a “summit” on Jewish identity
and a talk about Ethiopian Jewry.
But what a shame
these world leaders were not around last week
on the 29th of Heshvan to experience the annual Sigd holiday,
which falls 50 days after Yom Kippur.
They would have seen the tens of thousands of Ethiopian
olim from all around Israel who came
to the Tayelet, on the Sherover Promenade, to celebrate.
There were young people doing traditional dances,
elders sitting quietly,
and women in traditional white.
The main stage was filled with Kessim, the spiritual leaders,
under their colorful umbrellas.
I am not sure why this one was not on stage.
It was so crowded that only a few could actually see the stage,
and most did not even try.
Most people were walking and talking,
some were fasting, while others offered food.
For centuries in their villages in Ethiopia,
the Kes went to a hilltop to pray for the return to Zion,
and now their prayers were answered and they are here in Jerusalem.
From this spot with the best view of the Old City,
they can pray for the rebuilding of the Temple.
Many faced poverty and discrimination,
some walked through deserts from Ethiopia to get here,
and everyone had to learn about this new, strange culture and adjust to it.
However,
some of my favorite scenes were of the young people in uniform,
proud Israeli soldiers.
Buses were lined up all around the area for most of the day.
Thousand of Israelis of Ethiopian origin filled the streets.
While Jewish world leaders talk,
these Ethiopians ‘just did it.’
They came to Israel
and are living their ancestors’ Zionist dream.