Jewish Holiday of Sukkot Celebrated with over 500 people

For the first time ever: Chabad Sukkah at the Merrick Fair

…Draws hundreds, and then more on the day after…

This year, on October 3rd and 4th, the Merrick fair had a new attraction near the gazebo: A Sukkah*! Chabad Rabbi Shimon Kramer along with 4 other volunteers invited hundreds of people into the Chabad Sukkah to take part in the Mitzvoth** of eating in the sukkah and shaking the 4 species.

“We want to enable every person to participate in the holiday of Sukkot”, said Chabad Rabbi Kramer. “The main theme of Sukkot is unity and this was a very positive and joyous way to do it!”

On Monday, October 5th, the excitement continued with an exciting ‘Sukkot Celebration under the Tracks’.  Those coming home from work were greeted with the lively music from the Minster Brothers Orchestra.  A group of ‘dancing Rabbis’ showed up on an innovative travelling Sukkah booth (constructed and placed on the back of a pickup truck), adding to the holiday spirit. In addition to joyous dancing and delicious food from Supersols, Keith the Fire Juggler entertained everyone with his humorous fire-juggling show!

Gail Skall attended with her son Michael and her parents Pearl and Al Gordon.  “We thoroughly enjoyed the Sukkot celebration at the Merrick train station,” said Gail.  “Our fun evening celebration ended with Pearl winning the raffle prize.  This was another great celebration with Chabad.   I can't wait until Simchat Torah!”

The holiday of Sukkot continues this week, culminating with the joyous Simchat Torah holiday this weekend.  For more information, or to participate in the holiday celebrations, please visit www.ChabadJewishLife.org or call 516-833-3057.

*Sukkot is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the miraculous clouds which surrounded the Jewish people as they wandered in the desert wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. It is also a celebration of the completion of the harvest. The Sukkah booth is a temporary structure covered with vegetation or bamboo.

**Holiday practices of Sukkot include eating in the Sukkah for the duration of the holiday. Jews also take “Four Species” of plant life; a citron fruit, palm branch, willows twigs, and myrtle stems, and shake them together with a special blessing on each the days of the festival.  For further information, or if you have any questions related to Sukkot, please visit www.ChabadJewishLife.org/sukkot.