Rabbis, Students, and Alumni Celebrate Sukkot Across Israel
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Sukkot celebrations included rabbinical gatherings and yeshiva events nationwide.
- A mobile sukkah was used by a rabbi for holiday observance while traveling.
- Prayers were held at Joseph's tomb in Nablus for the first time in 26 years.
- Youth movements and alumni groups held significant holiday gatherings.
- Minister Bezalel Smotrich addressed youth and visited a sukkah.
- A tour commemorated a historical convoy, adding a personal family connection.
During the Sukkot holiday, various religious and educational communities across Israel held traditional gatherings and celebrations. The central "Hakabalat Pnei Revo" (Welcoming the Face of the Rabbi) event for Religious Zionist rabbis took place for the 13th year at Binyanei Ha'uma in Jerusalem, featuring an address by Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu and a documented conversation between prominent rabbis Zalman Melamed and Yaakov Shapira.
Rabbi Yosef Elankava, formerly the regional rabbi of the Gaza Strip, devised a unique solution for observing Sukkot customs while traveling: a mobile sukkah installed within his vehicle. Meanwhile, the Hesder Yeshiva in Ashkelon, led by Rabbi Avihu Fishfeder, and the Shvut Shomron Yeshiva, headed by Rabbi Yehoshua Schmidt, celebrated Simchat Beit HaShoeva with dancing and communal joy.
For the first time in 26 years, the Ovad Yosef Chai Yeshiva held holiday prayers and Hoshana Rabbah services at the tomb of Joseph in Nablus (Shechem), with Rabbi Yosef Elitzur leading the proceedings. The Ariel movement saw over a thousand girls participate in a Hoshana Rabbah event, where Rabbi Rachel Bezak addressed them as future leaders, and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich encouraged them to engage with the public.
Alumni of the Bnei Akiva Kiryat Herzog Yeshiva reunited for Simchat Beit HaShoeva at the sukkah of Rabbi Yaakov Gitelman. A special reunion was held for former residents of the religious Kibbutz Hevrat Hachaim's children's home, with attendees including parents of prominent figures like Rabbi Ariel Barkai and former minister Matan Kahana.
Other notable Sukkot activities included media personality Guy Maroz visiting the sukkah of MK Michal Waldinger and meeting with Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Rabbi Gad Rivach discussed the Yemenite etrog with Rabbi Yaakov Shapira. In Beit El, Rabbi Ariel Barali gave a lecture on halachic rulings using AI. Oren Mas, nephew of a fallen Palmach soldier, participated in a tour retracing the convoy's route. Actress Shloma Rivka Levin visited the tomb of Eleazar the son of Aaron in Awarta.
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