This year's holiday of Sukkot is going to start this Wednesday night. In Israel we only celebrate eight days whereas Jews in the Galut celebrate nine days. According to some opinions, the people in Galut need more time receiving any spirituality and therefore need an additional day. For us in Israel it is more like a local phone call to G - d and the Shechinah is much stronger.
On Sukkot, we don't only need a Sukkah but also a Lulav. The Lulav is a Mitzwa MiDeoraita and consists of a palm branch as well as of some myrtle and willow branches. The Etrog is also part of the Lulav but kept separately and not bound together with the branches.
Every day during Sukkot we shake the Lulav except on Shabbat when it turns into Mukzeh. We shake it into all six directions (down, up, north, east, south, west) and thus claim G – d's presence everywhere. The Mefarshim tell us different reasons for the Lulav, however, for Kabbalists, the Lulav is extremely important.
It is a well – known tradition to start building the Sukkah right after the end of Yom Kippur. It is always a special event going into different Sukkot every year, as each Sukkah has its own style. Some people like it more traditional and hang up posters of famous rabbis or pictures of Jerusalem. Other decorate it according to a more modern style. Expensive or moderate decoration, you will find anything.
Especially in religious neighbourhoods your can hear hammering and see people rushing around building Sukkot. A Sukkah has to be kosher (see Talmud Masechet Sukkah) which means that it has to be of a certain height and it must have a certain amount of walls. Poeple without balcony build their Sukkah in the garden in front of the house or in backyards. Especially in Mea Shearim the Chassidim are very busy these days. Building Sukkot everywhere, in any backyard and at any place. Sukkah next to Sukkah which would be too much for me, as all the neighbours participate in your private Sukkah conversations.
At the moment, you can find Lulav markets at almost each corner in religious areas in Jerusalem. Even in yards of private houses, as I saw in Malchei Israel Street last night. Some Belzer Chassidim just opened a stand and sell the four Minim.
I always love watching the Chassidim buying their Arba Minim. With total concentration they check every leaf of the branches. Of course, a Lulav has to be kosher as well and the leaves should no be damaged. Besides all the small stands there are huge Lulav markets in haredi areas. The biggest are at Supnik next to Kikar Shabbat and the one next to Bar Ilan Street opposite Sanhedria.
I cannot say that I understand the reason, but women are not allowed to enter the big chassidic markets. There are even signs outside: "Women are forbidden to enter".
I always ask myself why women are not allowed to enter. To be a little sarcastic: Are men too afraid that there full attention is turning to the women ? Are women in haredi Lulav markets are seen as a threat or men think that women simply don't understand what is going on ? Is it too much up to a man buying the Lulav ?
If so, why are female and male allowed to enter the same shops or supermarkets ? I don't see a difference between a Lulav market and a supermarket.
According to Halacha, a woman is allowed to shake the Lulav which I personally do almost every day during the Festival, and I know certain religious families where the woman even buys the Lulav sets for the males in the family.
As there is nothing I can do, I stand outside and watch the men hustling around and inspecting the leaves because the Mitzwa of the Lulav is only valid with a kosher Lulav. The most important part of the Lulav is the Etrog which sometimes cost a few hundred Shekels or even Dollar.
Last night I passed Supnik Square in the haredi Ge'ulah neighbourhood and was very much looking forward watching the Chassidim buying the Lulav. When I arrived I was quite disappointed, as "someone had this great idea" of covering the whole market with a huge plastic roof. Women were not even allowed to look inside and this must be a very new idea.
Already now we see men walking around in the streets with strange plastic covers. The Lulav is inside the cover and the Etrog is being put in a special box. Nothing should be damaged. If a man seems to be too busy, a women is allowed to hold the plastic cover. Even in Chassidic circles. That's already something.
Whoever doesn't have her or his own Lulav can go to Chabad and shake it there. During Sukkot, Chabad will have a stand at the Cardo in the Old City and at Zion Square. All Jews can participate in the Mitzwa and shake the Lulav.
The Lulav
Jerusalem and the Lulav
The Etrog
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