Local Jewish families observing Sukkot
Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/66766/
ROGERS — Sukkot, a Jewish holiday, began at sundown Monday and lasts seven days. It is followed immediately by another holiday, the Rejoicing of the Torah.
For Sukkot, dwelling in a structure, or sukkah, and waving four species of the plants, or lulav, are the most important aspects of the holiday. Rabbi Menachem Greisman and his family began observing Sukkot at 7 p. m. Monday. In the Greisman backyard, a structure was erected with four walls, and the roof was made of natural materials — branches and leaves. The structure is required to have more shade than sun. Each of the Greisman meals for the next seven days will be taken in the sukkah.
“ It is time for us to remember, too, the Clouds of Glory, ” Rabbi Greisman explained. “ The Clouds protected the Jews for 40 years when they were in the desert. Surrounded completely by the Clouds, the Jews in the desert enjoyed constant protection.
“ My family and I will take our meals in the sukkah. Today (Monday ), I am putting together four types of plant life. Lulav is the Hebrew word for a branch from a palm tree. Hadas is the word for myrtle. Arava is Hebrew for willow, and etrog means citrus. All these branches and fruits we use in Sukkot. Tying with a palm branch, I will bundle the willow and myrtle together. We will shake it in the structure, or sukkah, and use it for blessings. We will shake it in all directions. ”
The palm, myrtle, willow and citrus are significant in that they represent four species of people. The palm has a good taste. The myrtle has a good smell, no taste. The willow has neither taste nor smell. And the citrus both smells and tastes delicious. Representing those who study is the palm. Those who practice are represented by the myrtle. Those who neither study nor practice are represented by the willow, and those who do both, study and practice, are represented by the etrog, the citrus. Greisman said all species are needed.
Greisman’s plants and citrus came from every part of the world. The myrtle was shipped to him from Israel. The willow came from New York. The palm leaves are from Africa and the citrus from Italy.
Cooking for the holiday was Dobi Greisman, the rabbi’s wife.
“ She is an amazing, amazing cook, ” the rabbi said. “ People come to our home to eat her wonderful meals, not to hear me. ”
Among dishes she was preparing were challah (bread ), gevilta fish, salads, chicken soup and matza balls, chicken, stuffed cabbage, roasted vegetables, sweet-potato puffs and apple pie.
Holding one of their four children, Dobi watched for a minute as the rabbi tied the lulav, the plants, together in the sukkah, the structure. A festive occasion, Sukkot is the first Jewish holiday after Yom Kippur, the day of atonement and the most solemn of Jewish holidays.