The Sukkot are ready, the decorations have been hung, the four species have been purchased, and the children are unable to wait even another minute: after Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the residents of Israel arrive for one of the most beloved holidays of the year - Sukkot.
At the Western Wall, thousands of people are already preparing for the arrival of the traditional priestly blessing during the week, which this time, due to the corona virus, will be split into two different classes - on Wednesday and Thursday morning.
Getting ready for the holiday, Oren Ben Hakon
According to the unique corona layout of the Western Wall, 8,000 people are allowed to stay in the Western Wall compound at a given time, so the Western Wall Heritage Foundation will need to regulate those entering in order to prevent overcrowding.
Entry during the Priests' Blessing will be limited to capsules.
The class on Wednesday will be broadcast live on the "Israel Today" website.
The mobile sukkot are ready to go // Photo: Manny Ben Shahar,
The pleasant weather during the holiday is expected to take hundreds of thousands of people to the streets and nature reserves, along with many who will come to the synagogues for solemn prayers.
According to Halacha, on a holiday, in contrast to Shabbat, it is permissible to cook by transferring from fire to fire, that is, using fire that was lit before the holiday, in order to light the barbecue or stove.
Care should be taken to disconnect the electric ignition mechanism if any.
Beyond that, most of the laws are similar to Shabbat, including of course driving a car or using electrical appliances.
"In the four species reside, side by side, valuable etrog and a simple willow. It sharpens our duty to always remember to take care even of those who at first glance seem a little detached or transparent."
In recent days, members of the Chabad Youth Organization have also completed the great preparations for the holiday, focusing on providing the opportunity for hundreds of thousands of Israelis who are in isolation to celebrate the holiday properly.
Tens of thousands of packages of the four species have already been distributed in a subsidized manner to families who have difficulty getting out and purchasing them, and at the same time have significantly increased the number of mobile sukkahs, arriving via trailers and even attached to bicycles, to allow even a few minutes to enter.
Distribution of thatch to the sukkah in Raanana,
"The Rebbe of Lubavitch taught us that in the four species resides, side by side, a valuable etrog on the one hand and a simple prairie on the other. Yosef Aharonov, head of the Chabad mission in Israel.
At the same time, Chabad will take care of one of the main holiday mitzvos - the commandment to be happy, and for this purpose the Hasidic emissaries will operate "joy trucks", which will play cheerful music and try to lift the not-so-simple mood we are in during the corona days.
