In Jerusalem, Sukkot Begins with Blessings and Crowds

The holiday of Sukkot is a popular time for tourists from around the world to arrive in Jerusalem, Israel, to celebrate the holiday which originated in Biblical times. This year, with limited air travel, the numbers may be down, but visitors appear no less enthusiastic.

Tens of thousands of people walked to Jerusalem’s Old City to the Kotel, the Western Wall for the morning prayers of Birkat Cohanim, Priestly Blessings, on Sukkot on Sunday, October 20, 2024.

Thousands are coming and going all day, during the week of Sukkot – and late into the night.

The official rabbis and dignitaries stood in a secluded area above the Western Wall Plaza.

However, it was impressive to see Israeli flags flying overhead

and people lining the rooftops at every available vantage point.

A sukkah is a temporary structure for holiday meals. I finally got one quick photo of ours ready for Shabbat dinner before lighting candles and welcoming guests.

Lining the Jerusalem streets, you will see many sukkot on outside porches,

and of varied colors, sizes, and materials for the walls.

The First Station has a large sukkah for use by restaurant customers.

The Train Theater has a simple white sukkah in the courtyard.

The local pizza shop has had a sukkah on this street corner for many years.

All week leading up to the start of the holiday on Wednesday night, October 16th, people were assembling the materials to build the frame and walls.

On Jerusalem streets youngsters were selling schach, palm branches, to cover the sukkah.

While the major market is located near Machane Yehuda Market on Jaffa Street, on many of the Jerusalem streets, young men were selling everything needed for Sukkot, from an etrog to tinsel decorations.

With a good spot on the Aish rooftop, I recorded Birkat Cohahim this year. You can see people walking up the ramp to Temple Mount during the prayer.

More of Birkat Cohanim HERE

Celebrating Sukkot this year while remembering the lives of the fallen in the past year

and the hostages is the norm, both in private and public spaces.

More of the highlights of Sukkot 5785/2024 next time!

It’s time to go to Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, and check out the Jerusalem Parade family activities.

Moadim l’Simcha is the traditional greeting for the intermediate days of Sukkot.

However, I will also close with this young woman’s shirt – Am Yisrael is Very Chai.

Chag Samaech.

Special Sukkot Greetings

For the Sukkot holiday in Jerusalem, Israel,

image sukka, photo sukkah

 thousands of small sukkot are on balconies,

iamge large sukkah, sukka to sleep in

however, some people really do move out of the house

and into their sukkah to eat and sleep.

Sukka photo, Image unusual sukkah

Not everyone will see a sukkah on a camel,

but the buses will again be full and in holiday mode.

!חג שמח

bus sign Jerusalem holiday

Chag sameach!

Happy holidays to all!