SUKKOT 5773 / 2012: "ARBA MINIM Market in Jerusalem"

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Enjoy the video I made on 28 Sept. 2012 !

ARBA MINIM (Lulav) Market across the Machane Yehudah Market / Jerusalem.

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LULAV Photos from Jerusalem

Lulav Market in Jerusalem

Photo: Miriam Woelke

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It is time to purchase Lulav and Etrog and I am already starting to panic because today is Thursday and tomorrow Shabbat is coming in. Tonight I am planning to participate in a "Hachnasat Sefer Torah" at a Chabad House in downtown Jerusalem. Special guest will be Israel's Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger. I am going to make photos as well as a video. 

Nevertheless, if nothing is working out today or tomorrow, I am definitely going to buy my Lulav and Etrog on Sunday morning. Not in Mea Shearim though because they don't allow any women into the Arba Minim markets.:-) The reason is: Zniut, as male and female could mingle and, in the crowd, touch each other. 

The best time to spend Sukkot is in Jerusalem. Birkat HaCohanim, festivals in the Jewish Quarter (bring your own food otherwise you get ripped - off), shaking the Lulav and, of course, the celebrations in Mea Shearim. Unfortunately, Mea Shearim has been closing down its Sukkot Tishes for the wider public, as it has gotten far too crowded over the years. When me and a friend started to go Tishing a few years ago, everything worked out fine. However, a few months later, groups started walking in and self - appointed secular researchers sneaking around ruined the entire atmosphere. The good thing is that I have friends in the neighbourhood and a bit of insider information where to go. 

Here are a few links to Lulav pictures one and two years ago:

http://shearim.blogspot.co.il/2010/09/lulav-photos-from-jerusalem.html

http://shearim.blogspot.co.il/2011/10/lulav-market-in-jerusalem-part-1.html

http://shearim.blogspot.co.il/2011/10/lulav-market-in-jerusalem-part-2.html

My neighbours are ready for Sukkot.

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Sukkah Decoration in Jerusalem

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Mea Shearim and further haredi areas are preparing for the "Arba Minim" markets starting right after Yom Kippur is over. One of the biggests markets will be at Kikar Supnik (Binyane'i Supnik / Dushinsky). Of course, I am going to take pictures but in Mea Shearim and surroundings, my access will be limited due to the fact that I am female. Nevertheless, this year, I am also getting my own Lulav and Etrog. 

A shop offering Sukkah decoration. Seen in Jaffa Road / Jerusalem.

Photo: Miriam Woelke

Pashkevilim in Mea Shearim keep on warning the local population to watch their money and not to spend everything due to the upcoming holidays. There are further warnings against false Shochtim offering Kapparot in the area.

I haven't decided yet whether I am going to one of the Kapparot places in order to take pictures. For quite a few years I haven't participated in this custom anymore. Before I used to give money but the chicken I have never done. 

Those of you who are interested in seeing some Kapparot pictures may have a look here:

http://shearim.blogspot.co.il/2011/10/bh-kapparot-before-yom-kippur-are.html

The Ramban calls is a "foolish custom" and every year anew, Israeli animals rights activists keep on demonstrating against the mass killing of chickens. The truth is that those who insist on doing Kapparot with a chicken won't give up their custom due to a few animal activists. I prefer to stay away from the chicken Kapparot, as the fowl isn't treated that nicely. Hundreds of chickens are being squeezed into small cages and neither get water of food but just waiting to die.

Lulav Market in Jerusalem, Part 2

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Here are the photos from PART 1:

http://shearim.blogspot.com/2011/10/lulav-market-in-jerusalem-part-1.html 

 Simchat Torah Preparations

  Kikar Shabbat - The border between Ge'ulah and Mea Shearim

Sukkah Decoration

Sukkot on Balconies

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Lulav Market in Jerusalem, Part 1

B”H

Almost every Jew is busying himself with the upcoming Sukkot. Either in one or the other way. Generally most religious Jews build their own Sukkah (booth). Either in their garden, in the yard or on the porch or balcony. While building a Sukkah on a balcony, one has to know certain Halachot, as the neighbour's balcony from above can make one's own Sukkah unkosher. 

A Sukkah has to be kosher and many laws are stipulated in the Talmud Tractate Sukkah. One of the most import parts of a Sukkah is the roof called S'chach. It is forbidden that the S'chach is completely closed but one has to see the sky through it. In Israel, a popular S'chach is made of palmtree branches. 

But even if your Sukkah is kosher (three walls and a kosher S'chach), if your neighbour's balcony is located right on top of you Sukkah, the Sukkah is not kosher, as nothing may cover the S'chach. 

What we also do on Chol HaMo'ed Sukkot (the intermediate days), we shake the Lulav. Men and women alike. Those who do not have their own Lulav and Etrog, may do the shaking at Chabad places. In Jerusalem, for instance, several Chabadnikim offer the Mitzvah of shaking the Lulav publically to every Jew. At Zion Square, in front of the Hamashbir department store in King George or next to the Zemach Zedek Synagogue at the Cardo in the Jewish Quarter (Old City of Jerusalem).

Together with a friend I went to three Lulav markets in Jerusalem yesterday. Two markets didn't want to let us in and only one allowed access to men and women. One market had a Sephardi guard and when he said that women weren't allowed in, he was lying. What he didn't like were my jeans. 

The market really not letting any women inside is the Lulav market at Kikar Supnik in Ge'ulah. Right at Kikar Shabbat, the entrance to Mea Shearim. However, the guards let us take some photos of the surroundings. 


Why are no women allowed in ? Again this is a matter of modesty, as male and female could get to close to each other when the masses are storming the market.

 

Here are a few impressions from yesterday:

Lulav and Etrog have to be kosher and every buyer is checking his little "treasure" before the purchase. If the Lulav is split or the Etrog damaged, the entire Lulav is not kosher anymore.

Sales of palmtree branches for the S'chach. The branches are not cheap and each may cost 20 Shekels (approx. 6 Dollar) or more.

Checking the Etrog before purchasing is. Seen in Mea Shearim.

No women are allowed in !

We couldn't even have a glimpse into the market from above, as everything was covered from all sides. You can see the Dushinsky boy's school in the background.

Not on this particular market with limited access but at a stand next door.

Copyright aller Photos: Miriam Woelke

Lulav Checking in Jerusalem

Copyright / Photo: Miriam Woelke