Some Thoughts on Sukkot
Yes, it’s October, not December. And that is exactly why I have some thoughts on the real “Jewish Christmas.” Hanukkah is for amateurs! You want the real deal? Meet Sukkot. (Feast of the Tabernacles in English.)
Still don’t know what I’m talking about? Here’s a quick background on the holiday. You don’t need all the info, however, to understand why I’m calling Sukkot the real “Jewish Christmas” for my Tcjewfolk.com column this month.
Before you read about that, however, let me tell you about a tradition that Bryan and I have with our close friends Neil and Nancy. The Annual Reciprocal Sukkah Set Up has been happening between our two families for six years. Days after Yom Kippur, Bryan goes to Neil’s house with a few of our kids. Neil and Bryan put up a Sukkah there (sort of like a hut) while the kids “help.” Then Neil and Bryan come to our house to get ours standing. It’s the rare moment that I see Bryan doing something handy. Honest to goodness I find the picture of him below securing the roof with those handy person gloves to be pretty hot.
But I digress.
We also pick one night of the week-long holiday to have a more formal dinner together in the Sukkah with Neil, Nancy, and their kids. Last year we ate at Neil and Nancy’s. This year we will be at the Badzin Sukkah. But we usually end up at Nancy’s because although I’m a confident cook, Nancy is a ridiculously excellent one. Any time I cook something Bryan loves, he says, “This is Nancy quality,” which is as high of a compliment as I would hope for. That this doesn’t make me crazy is a testament to how much I love Nancy.
It’s an unbelievably special experience for the four of us to watch our kids grow up connected this way and to have our Jewish memories so intricately woven together.
By the way, these pictures do not even capture how fabulous a person can make a Sukkah. I’m sort of a minimalist so ours is very plain inside and out, but a Sukkah is a blank canvas just asking for a creative eye, and the kids love to add their touch. Here’s an image search for “Sukkah” on Google. It’s pretty cool how different each one is. I bet you can guess what decorating a Sukkah reminds me of. Yes, a Christmas tree! (Or at least how I imagine that activity.)
Come see why else I think Hanukkah as the Christmas comparison needs to GO. It’s not just about the decorating element.
See you there! Happy Sukkot! Or should I say merry?
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One Response
I hadn’t heard of Sukkot until watching the show “The League” on netflix. I’m not sure if the comedy is your style, but I loved your thoughts on this post and tcjewfolk.com
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