Sukkah – Page 2 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

Favorite Sukkot of Sukkot

October 9, 2012rjstreets

The Sukkot holiday is over and as the tourists are heading home,

I would like share a few favorite Sukkot from this year.

In some neighborhoods there were so many visitors

that warning signs were posted asking for quiet.

In the Nachlaot neighborhood,

I found this tiny sukkah down a narrow lane

and another one almost hidden up on a roof top.

At the Kotel, the Western Wall Plaza, where there was a large sukkah

as well as smaller ones for the huge crowds of visitors.

The public was invited one morning to visit the sukkah at Beit Hanasi,

the official residence of Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Arriving inside the building after a long wait outside,

many stopped to peak in

to the President’s Official State receiving room,

before passing through to the sukkah.

As usual the President’s sukkah was not designed for eating,

but rather for showcasing the fruit and agricultural wonders of Israel.

Many hotels had large sukkot, where thousands of visitors ate.

The large sukkah at Kikar Safra, Safra Square,

looked the same as in recent years, but

inside it was decorated with unique decorations using recycled plastic.

Sukkot ranged from the most simple,

to a ‘political’ sukkah on poles,

to this colorful beer bottle decorated bar sukkah.

Perhaps the biggest difference from last year was Jaffa Road.

Jaffa Road was lined with sukkot and crowded.

The Jerusalem light rail trains were running and filled with people,

last year they were going, but filled with sand bags on trial runs.

The city center was busy day and night.

Our sukkah was a busy place too, I just wish it hadn’t rained

so hard during the main course at dinner the first night.

It was indeed a very happy Sukkot holiday in Jerusalem, Israel.

If you missed it perhaps, next year in Jerusalem?

Birchat Kohanim Attracts Kotel Crowds

October 4, 2012rjstreets

The annual Birchat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing

at the Kotel, the Western Wall, on Chol HaMoed Sukkot,

is known to attract large crowds.

Entering the Old City by way of the Jaffa Gate the crowds looked normal,

with the plaza all ready for a large Sukkot holiday fair.

The Muslim Shuk was set for the Jewish crowd, with talitot for sale

and there was even an Israeli flag on display.

I started out late, and was surprised to find that

the route to the security entrance was not the one I usually take.

The crowd grew and waited very impatiently;

there was nearly a riot as security personnel would let no one in.

It was very hot, uncomfortable and impossible to move,

then the crushing crowd surged forward and pushed everyone along.

Inside the plaza area I saw the regular crowded holiday scenes,

with people as far as you could see, both to the right

and to the left.

The Kotel, the Western Wall is usually packed with people on Sukkot,

and certainly for the Birchat Kohanim.

This year,

there were people watching

from rooftops,

stairwells and small passages.

There seemed to be fewer kohanim

with arms raised and covered by white talitot, but

there were hundreds of raised arms taking photos on their cellphones.

After the blessing, the trick was to find a way to leave,

again pushing through the crowds.

At least this man found some solitude

in the sukkah on the roof of Aish HaTorah.

.

Regular folks grabbed whatever spot they could,

while others slowly proceeded out to the Jewish Quarter.

I thought that I was finished with the crowds, but then I went to Beit Hanasi

for the Israeli President’s annual open sukkah.

Wow, was I wrong–but those photos

will have to wait for later, as there are more crowds

again on the streets for the Jerusalem Parade.

Whatever estimates you see quoted for this year’s Birchat Kohanim,

they will have to be low if they do not include the thousands

who were outside the plaza area and unable to get in.

Moadim L’Simcha !

10 Sukkot Favorites

October 11, 2011rjstreets

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!