For the third time Chabad of Bay Ridge will take to the streets with innovative traveling Sukkah huts in order to enable Jewish people to celebrate the holiday. With one Sukkah constructed and placed on a flatbed trailer and a smaller Pedi-Sukkah constructed on a modified Pedi-cab, they help bring the holiday right to people’s doorstep.
The Sukkah, a temporary structure covered with branches or bamboo, commemorates the miraculous clouds that surrounded the Jews throughout their wanderings in the desert on their way to the Promised Land.
Chabad’s traveling Sukkahs will be visiting neighborhood businesses, local parks and residential areas, giving people an opportunity to access a Sukkah hut. To add to the enjoyment of the holiday, light snacks will be available in the Sukkah at all times.
“It was a pleasant surprise to experience the Sukkah booth while going about my day” said Allison Saginor after meeting up with the Pedi-Sukkah. Abe Horowitz echoed the sentiments expressed by many, when he said “It’s wonderful to be able to take a short spiritual break without disturbing my hectic work schedule”.
Holiday practices of Sukkot include eating in the Sukkah for the duration of the holiday. Jews also take “Four Species” –a citron, a palm branch, willow twigs and myrtle stems — and shake them together with a special blessing on each of the days of the festival. A set of the “Four Species” will be on hand in the traveling Sukkah.
“It is important to give as many people as possible the opportunity to participate” said Chabad Rabbi Tzvi Stroh. “A central theme of Sukkot is unity, as our sages teach us, when we walk into the Sukkah we are all enveloped by it’s spirituality equaly. From the most learned Rabbi to the most simple person, in a Sukkah we share the same space, and the more people that participate the more powerful that unity is.
The traveling Sukkah joins several other less-mobile cousins, such as the booth found at the Chabad center, 373 Bay Ridge Avenue where one can enjoy “Sushi in the Sukkah” on October 20th beginning at 6:00 PM.
Sukkot (& Shemini Atzeret/ Simchat Torah) begins Oct. 16 at sundown and ends Oct. 25 at dark. Rejoicing and dancing in celebration of the completion of the reading of the Torah will take place at Chabad of Bay Ridge, 373 Bay Ridge Avenue, October 24thbeginning at 7:30 PM.
For more information, contact Rabbi Tzvi Stroh, of Chabad of Bay Ridge at rabbi@chabadofbayridge.com or at 718-974-6366.
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