I’m sitting in my sukkah, fighting off the heat. This week we all have an extra room outside. We eat all our meals in the sukkah, despite the heat of the day. We are obligated by the Torah to do this, to remember our exodus from Egypt, and we take it seriously. It’s simply the way of life here. To NOT have a sukkah would be strange, an embarrassment. We would stand out and people would talk. All around Israel this is happening. Our medics, always standing by, have sukkahs, too. Here are photos they’ve sent us!
Growing up, we did not celebrate Sukkot. My family was Conservative. We went to Hebrew school and I’m sure there was a sukkah at the synagogue. But that was it. Nothing at home.
Israel is different that way. Here, being fully Jewish and observant is NORMAL. It is CELEBRATED. And it is wonderful.
As I write this, I hear the frequent blast of the jigsaw….our next-door neighbors are building an additional to their small house. The father, in his early 30s, quit his job and is building with his own two hands. He is now working on the roof. His father is helping him. Some friends stop by, offering advice. His family is lucky. There are many Jewish builders in Israel. Engineers, too. I love that.
In Israel, building seems to occur non-stop. Every city is filled with cranes and scaffolding. Beer Sheva 45-min away has new high-rise apartment buildings going up, across from IKEA. I’ve noted the progress. Astounding. Here in Susya, we have added 4 new neighborhoods in the last 15 years, and now, people are adding 2nd floors to their new homes. Why? Are Israelis never satisfied? Or is it something else? I also want to add….my husband says I am catching the “bug.” Is that bad? I think it’s a sign of energy. A positive sign.
All this is occurring even though the country is in a sort of “Lockdown” mode until October 18th. This is due to the Corona Pandemic and the latest government rules. People normally visit their families during the Sukkoth holiday and go on daytrips. Now, everyone is “stuck” at home, in their empty sukkahs. Difficult for the empty nesters and grandparents, who look forward to this time. The limits are 10 people inside, 20 people outside.
Violence on the roads hasn’t slowed down at all….our medics are called for incidents such as molotov cocktail attacks and rock-throwing. I had thought that during this “closure” at least the arab violence would subside. Sadly, I was wrong.
Those of you who have donated for this new year, many heartfelt thanks!!! Those of you who still have not donated, please do!!!
