
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — On Succos we leave our comfortable house and go out to the Succah – a booth that does not have a solid roof. This demonstrates our belief that it is not brick and mortar that protects us; rather it is Hashem [G-d]. Rabbi Moshe Turk of The Jewish [...]

By Judy Lash Balint By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM — Seventeen ways you know Sukkot is coming to Jerusalem. 1. The tourists have landed! Overwhelmingly religious, English and French speaking, they jam the city’s take-out places and restaurants. The well-dressed visitors may be seen in packs wandering up and down Emek Refaim Street and through [...]
By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM — Sixteen ways Jerusalemites know Sukkot is coming: 1. The clang of metal poles and the sounds of hammering are practically constant as Jerusalem’s apartment dwellers hurry to erect their sukkot and squeeze them into small balconies, odd-shaped gardens and otherwise derelict rooftops. 2. The tourists have landed! Overwhelmingly religious, [...]
By Sara Appel-Lennon SAN DIEGO–While researching Thanksgiving origins, I uncovered some hidden history. Many were taught that the Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving at Plymouth Rock in 1620. The meal served only a small part of the celebration. Originally Thanksgiving focused on prayer to offer thanks for a bountiful harvest. In Jewish tradition the festival [...]