Sukkot, the holiday,
Sukkot those temporary dwellings,
I love to find new ones every year.
However,
this sukka on a camel is always a favorite.
חג שמח
שבת שלום
Jewish holiday celebrations
21 Favorite Sukkot in Jerusalem
I love Sukkot in Jerusalem, Israel.
Whether it is one large sukka
tucked away in a courtyard,
or many standing on the porches of new buildings.
How many can you count hereת
and here, seven or eight?
Some are small and inconspicuous,
some on roof tops.
The sukka in the Israel Museum next to the children’s wing
is simple, and with branches for supports and on top.
This rooftop sukka wins the prize for
the least elaborate and inexpensive sukka.
A pizza shop put up a white sukka on the sidewalk,
while the King David Hotel
has one large colorful sukka on its veranda.
Outside on King David Street
there is this plain white one.
All you had to do was look up,
to see these on King David Street.
On the porches of the Waldorf Astoria Residences
one sukka even had a bed standing by.
The Jerusalem Waldorf Astoria Hotel sukka in the atrium,
is always a favorite.
Mamilla also has its share of sukkot.
The Old City is in background
of this view from inside the Citadel Hotel.
Its main sukkot were huge,
but if you look more closely
you can see this wooden sukka perched
on a ledge high above these below.
The Citadel also has dining tables in the sukka on top.
Thousands of visitors are here for the holidays,
and the Inbal Hotel also has private sukkot above,
and the elegant atrium sukka below,
and more along the side of the hotel as well.
I also like the sukka at the neighboring Liberty Bell Park.
Every year the Beit Hanasi, the Israel President’s residence
has an open sukka day,
when the public is invited inside.
This year the time was extended to 4:00 pm,
but I was late.
As on Yom Kippur at the conclusion of the Neilah Service,
the gates were closed.
This was as close as I could get to the presidential sukka this year.
However,
I was in Hevron today.
So instead of my annual Presidential sukka photo
here is the sukka of Avraham Avinu,
where Jewish voices
and sounds of prayer and song for Sukkot
were heard both inside and outside the burial places
of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs.
OOPS,
I almost forgot!
Our family sukka is pretty special too!
The multitude of holiday events happening this week
will have to wait for next time,
meanwhile, hope you are enjoying.
חג שמח
Yom Kippur Coming on Jerusalem Nights
Before Yom Kippur,
tens of thousands flock to the Old City,
and to the Kotel, the Western Wall,
for special selihot prayers.
The sounds of piyutim could also be heard coming
from the Israel Museum and the plaza at Kikar Safra.
In recent years a growing number of people,
in religious neighborhoods,
such as Sha’arei Hesed and Nahlaot,
come on organized tours to see and hear.
Some alleyways were dark and quiet,
while many others were filled with tour groups,
some with professional guides and musicians,
religious and secular,
Hebrew and English,
and students of all ages.
Certain locations in Nahlaot
were more popular, like this one with its striking wall art.
Often another group was waiting,
so it was time to move along.
On Rabbi Aryeh Levin Street
by the house of Rabbi Aryeh Levin z”l,
a must-stop-and-see-and-learn spot in Nahlaot.
For decades Rav Levine z”l taught in Jerusalem,
and is remembered for his many acts of kindness,
visiting and caring for Jewish prisoners and the sick.
Our group went past a busy restaurant,
inside a Nahlaot courtyard
and up the stairs to see the synagogue of Rav Levin z”l,
Beit Knesset Ahdut Yisrael,
the Unity of Israel.
Memorial plaques line the walls
for Jews who perished in War of Independence in 1948,
mostly women and children,
and for former Israeli Presidents
Yitzhak Shamir z”l and Menachem Begin z”l.
Rabbi Aryeh’s grandson had some great stories to share.
Many of the tours ended at this bakery in Geula.
It is open 24/6.
As you can see it was busy at midnight.
I am not sure how many could read the signs
calling for modest dress and pure speech.
Another sign is to harder to explain,
but will interest those who know
about the Shuk Kapparot.
On Tuesday morning, erev Yom Kippur,
it will be filled with live chickens and thousands of people.
Meanwhile, as on most nights in Machane Yehuda Market,
thousands of people were partying,
eating and drinking with loud background music.
As I walked home, well after midnight,
I passed more people coming.
Fathers and young sons,
young women looking for sehliot prayers in Sha’arei Hesed.
I do not know if they found what they were seeking,
but I do know that despite all the large posters and promotions,
the only place to find Matisyahu on October 13,
the Thursday night after Yom Kippur,
will be in the shuk.
His performance has was cancelled and rescheduled for May.
Touring the Jerusalem, Israel, streets late at night
it is hard to believe that so much is going on.
The traditional greeting before Yom Kippur is
G’mar Hatima Tova.
There will be no bus service on Yom Kippur,
but in Jerusalem even the buses get in the pre-holiday mood.