Sukkot Adventures
Sukkot was such joyful time for us this year! After spending nearly nine months out of the country, we were so blessed to be home to celebrate the fall Holy Days!
Last year's post about Sukkot explains a little about rich meaning behind this feast, and shows Sukkot from all over the city. Make sure to check out that post if you'd like to know more.
However, I will share a few things I learned through my thesis research about the meaning behind the words used to describe Sukkot in the bible. Often times this holy day will be described with words such as "tabernacle" and "dwell." I did an exegetical study and found that tabernacle means "temporary dwelling" and actual word used for dwell is "to abide with," as in "to keep covenant." The root for both is sometimes used for "to marry" or "to lie with intimately." Yeshua dwelled temporarily on this earth, and He dwells in our hearts today. We are His living tabernacles - His temporary abode until He returns to the earth. He is a fulfillment of the covenant God made with Abraham, and He is our bridegroom. Knowing this makes the physical embodiment of the Sukkah such a special place!
This year, we did a lot more celebrating with friends who we greatly missed while we were away. We had several barbecues in family homes, and at way more food than is probably healthy! We also took a little stroll to see the Sukkot around town.
We started in City Center...
Most restaurants in City Center have Sukkah set up outside so guests can keep the Mitzvah (command or good deed) to eat in a Sukkah.
This was a cute little Sukkah in front of an ice cream shop.
This is a big sukkah near the court house. It might be the equivalent to the "town square Christmas Tree" in America. They had a stage set up for concerts and fun! Lets go inside...
The festive interior with traditional decorations and tables.
Then we headed to the Old City and passed through this Sukkah on the stairs.
There was a little party happening here. Big Sukkah... loud music and singing.
Aviel fell asleep on the walk!
We saw this little Sukkah on the Southern Wall Excavation Site.
This is a Yeshiva called Aish HaTorah (The Fire of Torah). Its right across from the Wailing Wall. The Office I worked for designed a garden, yet to be constructed, in the front. See the Sukkot on the roof?
The buildings adjecent to Aish, with some nice bamboo (Aviel says "baboom").
The Temple Mount Rabbis were in this Sukkah blessing passers-through.
Here's how festivities looked at the wall.
And we saw this little one on the way out.
International Babywearing Week (yes, there is such a thing!) fell at the same time as Sukkot this year. I had to mention it because you all know how much I love babywearing. Here's Devin wearing Aviel in our Babyhawk Mei Tai on our walk home. Yemin Moshe, the oldest neighborhood outside the Old City walls in the background.
***
A few days later, we headed back into City Center for the big parade! We arrived at our destination before the parade passed by, so we took some time to play in a swimming fountain in Yemin Moshe.
Aviel is checking it out
This was sort of a spontaneous visit, so we didn't arrive with his swim trunks. Since it seemed like too much fun to pass up, we decided to go diaper swimming. I'm giving a few instructions before we get in.
The fountain was full of orthodox kids. This was sweet little boy, checking out the Lion with Aviel.
It started to get chilly but when I asked him if he wanted to get out, he said "No way!"
So we played a little longer, even with some shivers! "Brrrrrrrr!"
Eventually we made it out, changed into warm clothes (which I always keep on hand for Aviel because we go from smoking hot days to really breezing evenings this time of the year!). Then we headed Karen Ha Yesod road for the parade!
The parade opened with soldiers. These are from a border patrol unit.
They had this water proof, bomb proof tank truck.
Intrigued by the giraffe!
Tourist groups from all over the world marched in the parade and handed out goodies from their nation. Here's a group from China.
And Angola
Now we're on the look out for Sabba and Savta (Hebrew for Grandpa and Grandma). We knew this was their group because of the colorful kites!
Here they are! They stopped to say "Hi" and give us a few goodies before continuing on their merry way!
Thank you for celebrating Sukkot with us this year! Maybe next year, you can join us!
Related Posts:
Adventures During Sukkot 2010
I love babywearing
Last year's post about Sukkot explains a little about rich meaning behind this feast, and shows Sukkot from all over the city. Make sure to check out that post if you'd like to know more.
However, I will share a few things I learned through my thesis research about the meaning behind the words used to describe Sukkot in the bible. Often times this holy day will be described with words such as "tabernacle" and "dwell." I did an exegetical study and found that tabernacle means "temporary dwelling" and actual word used for dwell is "to abide with," as in "to keep covenant." The root for both is sometimes used for "to marry" or "to lie with intimately." Yeshua dwelled temporarily on this earth, and He dwells in our hearts today. We are His living tabernacles - His temporary abode until He returns to the earth. He is a fulfillment of the covenant God made with Abraham, and He is our bridegroom. Knowing this makes the physical embodiment of the Sukkah such a special place!
This year, we did a lot more celebrating with friends who we greatly missed while we were away. We had several barbecues in family homes, and at way more food than is probably healthy! We also took a little stroll to see the Sukkot around town.
Most restaurants in City Center have Sukkah set up outside so guests can keep the Mitzvah (command or good deed) to eat in a Sukkah.
This is a big sukkah near the court house. It might be the equivalent to the "town square Christmas Tree" in America. They had a stage set up for concerts and fun! Lets go inside...
Then we headed to the Old City and passed through this Sukkah on the stairs.
There was a little party happening here. Big Sukkah... loud music and singing.
We saw this little Sukkah on the Southern Wall Excavation Site.
This is a Yeshiva called Aish HaTorah (The Fire of Torah). Its right across from the Wailing Wall. The Office I worked for designed a garden, yet to be constructed, in the front. See the Sukkot on the roof?
The buildings adjecent to Aish, with some nice bamboo (Aviel says "baboom").
The Temple Mount Rabbis were in this Sukkah blessing passers-through.
International Babywearing Week (yes, there is such a thing!) fell at the same time as Sukkot this year. I had to mention it because you all know how much I love babywearing. Here's Devin wearing Aviel in our Babyhawk Mei Tai on our walk home. Yemin Moshe, the oldest neighborhood outside the Old City walls in the background.
A few days later, we headed back into City Center for the big parade! We arrived at our destination before the parade passed by, so we took some time to play in a swimming fountain in Yemin Moshe.
This was sort of a spontaneous visit, so we didn't arrive with his swim trunks. Since it seemed like too much fun to pass up, we decided to go diaper swimming. I'm giving a few instructions before we get in.
The fountain was full of orthodox kids. This was sweet little boy, checking out the Lion with Aviel.
It started to get chilly but when I asked him if he wanted to get out, he said "No way!"
So we played a little longer, even with some shivers! "Brrrrrrrr!"
Eventually we made it out, changed into warm clothes (which I always keep on hand for Aviel because we go from smoking hot days to really breezing evenings this time of the year!). Then we headed Karen Ha Yesod road for the parade!
Tourist groups from all over the world marched in the parade and handed out goodies from their nation. Here's a group from China.
Now we're on the look out for Sabba and Savta (Hebrew for Grandpa and Grandma). We knew this was their group because of the colorful kites!
Here they are! They stopped to say "Hi" and give us a few goodies before continuing on their merry way!
Thank you for celebrating Sukkot with us this year! Maybe next year, you can join us!
Related Posts:
Adventures During Sukkot 2010
I love babywearing
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