Posted on 10/04/2004 10:27:19 AM PDT by Alouette
MOSCOW, Russia – Jews in Moscow celebrated Sukkot at different venues, one of the most unique being a Sukkah situated on the grounds of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.
"Sukkot was always my favorite holiday," admitted Lori Shestack, an employee and resident of the embassy. "For me it was a great pleasure to share this holiday with many friends and my family, as well as a number of the embassy’s staff."
Ms. Shestack, who is the Head of the trade and investment unit at the U.S. embassy, and a mother of two, was quite saddened when her 'easy to assemble Sukkah' failed to be delivered to her home in Moscow in time for last year's Sukkot holiday.
"This summer I was in New York, and I was determined to see to it that I would be spending Sukkot in a Sukkah at my house," says Lori, "I myself went to the post office and packed and mailed it to my Russian address."
Having received permission from the Administration of the U.S. embassy to erect the Sukkah on the compound, Lori wasted no time in putting up her Sukkah, with the help of her 13-year old son Eli and several of his friends.
This is the first time the Embassy has a Sukkah located on the compound. “Many people came over to ask what it is,” Lori explained, “I let them know about the Jewish Holiday, and I explained why we as Jews celebrate this Holiday”.
Decorations for the Sukkah were made by her daughter Miriam, as well as pupils from the Sunday School for English-speaking children of Expat Jews,operated by the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS. The 30 children cut out and decorated Chinese lanterns, in addition to making a large welcome sign showing the children's handprints.
Throughout the holiday, the Shestack family had more then 30 guests. "We had visitors from the Canadian Embassy, guests from Israel, South Africa, Russia, and America. You can call us the international Sukkah!" exclaimed the embassy worker.
Elsewhere in Moscow, Jews celebrated Sukkot at several other gatherings. At the Moscow Jewish Community Center, the halls were packed to capacity. More then 1300 people turned for a day full of fun and excitement.
Children gathered in the main hall, which was beautifully decorated with balloons. Right in the center of the room was a large Lulav and Etrog made of balloons.
The youngsters laughed and giggled as the students from the local 'Tomchei Tmimim' Yeshiva entertained them, dressed as clowns and performed skits. Following the show, the children took part in a number of carnival games, where they had the chance to win wonderful prizes. Many adults simultaneously enjoyed a concert put on by the ‘Hasidic Capella’ Choir.
"Jewish awareness has grown tremendously here in Moscow," said Rabbi Chaim Machlin, the Director of 'Beit Chabad-Marina Roscha'. "Here we are giving people a chance to enjoy the holiday, perform the Mitzvah of shaking the Lulav and Etrog, and have a great time while they're at it".
Refreshments were provided in the 850-capacity Sukkah near the Marina Roscha JCC.
WARNING: This is a high volume ping list
Fantastic!! But that sukkah does not look like you could fit 850 people in it -- mine is bigger and only holds about 15!
Probably the last too.
That was the American Embassy sukkah. Here is the Marina Roscha sukkah.
This is good. In the face of the National Bolsheviks and other Nazi types.
Now that's a sukkah!
She seems determined to get that Sukkah.
Simchat Torah is my favorite holiday, and be`ezrat HaShem I will be driving two hours to the nearest big city to kiss the holy scrolls and pay them homage. Prayers for a safe journey there and back would be greatly appreciated.
And to think I thought this thread had to do with rap music.
Dittos to your #9
Here is a sukkot Q for you: my son is maybe the only practicing Jewish child at his little elementary school. A local cantor said that if he eats lunch under the open air he is eating in "G-d's sukkah" so it's OK. Is that correct?
I'm not Jewish, but did you say Jimmy Carter (Big Sukkah) was visiting the US embassy in Moscow??????
RATHER THAN ASK, I LOOKED IT UP:
The Sukkah is a very important element in the celebration of the Sukkot festival. A Sukkah is a hut like the huts that Moses and the Israelites lived in as they wandered the desert for 40 years before they reached the Promised Land. These huts were made of branches and were easy to assemble, take apart, and carry as the Israelites wandered through the desert.
From the ice cream stick and clay structures of school children to the homemade backyard huts of Jewish families, there are some important elements to remember when constructing a Sukkah.
While any material can be used to build a Sukkah including wood, canvas, aluminum, metal, and fiberglass. It is the dimensions that are important. The walls of the Sukkah should not be taller than 35 feet (960 cm) in height or shorter than 35 inches (80 cm). And the Sukkah should not be more than 12 inches (24 cm) off the ground.
An important part of a Sukkah is the roof. The roof must not be totally closed in, but must allow the sky to show through. Usually wooden slats are placed across the top and green branches, shrubbery, or foliage are placed across the beams to create a roof that allows the night sky to show through.
Sometimes the outside wall of the home is used as a starting point for the structure. This adds stability and helps reduce the costs of building the Sukkah. Windows are often included. The additional of electricity helps to make the Sukkah a comfortable, though temporary, home.
Once the structure is built family members decorate the interior of the sukkah by hanging fruit and vegetables, such as apples, grapes, corn, and pomegranates, from the roofing branches. The addition of New Years cards, posters, and party decorations help bring a fun and festive feeling to the structure and make it an inviting place for the family to enjoy their holiday meals.
I was dusting off my ebonics lesson from Airplane!, myself.
"Sukkah don wan one, Sukkah don get none."
It's pronounced Sookah. ;-) I think you were thinking of Sucka'. :-P
This is a case of mistaken word identity. Nothing to see here. Move along... move along....
If that was correct then why would anyone ever bother with the trouble building a sukkah if all you had to do was eat at a picnic table outdoors?
It's wonderful how open the former states of the USSR have become to open expressions of religion.
Try building a sukkah on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol and you'd probably get arrested.
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