Sukkot gets political as politicians sukka-hop
The children of Israel dwelled in temporary dwellings on their way from Egypt to the land of Israel more than 3000 years ago under the leadership of Moses.
Today, the children of Israel will have to settle for their modern day leaders, who will be holding events in Succot across the country next week during Hol Hamoed Sukkot.
President Reuven Rivlin and his wife Nechama will open the President’s Residence to the public on Monday for the annual open sukka event, which this year will be themed “Celebrating 70 years in the President’s sukka with our brothers and sisters of the Diaspora.” During the day, the president and first lady will greet guests in their sukka.
The event will include a variety of activities for families, including a floating sukka, theatrical and musical performances, arts and crafts, an exhibition of heroes from Jewish history, and drawing family trees.
On Tuesday, the President’s “mobile sukka” will visit Tel-Aviv’s Habima Square. The president will meet with Mayor Ron Huldai and residents of the city. The event will celebrate the values of multiculturalism, Zionism, and tolerance, with cultural and musical performances.
Thousands of Likud members are expected to attend Transportation Minister Israel Katz’s annual sukka party on Sunday in Moshav Kfar Ahim, an event he has been hosting for more than 20 years. The event outgrew the sukka many years ago, with each year, attendance growing bigger.
Katz has used his speeches at his annual sukka parties to call for the death sentence of the terrorists who murdered the Fogel family in 2012, and also to insult US President Barack Obama for pushing for a settlement freeze in 2010.
The Samaritans of Holon, who have joined the Likud en masse, will be hosting a sukka party for Likud activists Monday
Shas will be hosting a mega-event with the country’s Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, Council of Shas Torah Sages head Rabbi Shalom Cohen, party leader Arye Deri, Huldai and singer Yaakov Shwekey on Sunday at Tel Aviv’s Yad Eliyahu Stadium, home of the Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball team. The event initially did not include Cohen due to an internal dispute with Deri but the two have made up, and he will deliver a key address.
Labor leader Avi Gabbay has invited the public to an open sukka event next Tuesday in Rishon Lezion. The event is part of his effort to reach out to new sectors of the population who do not traditionally vote Labor.
Yesh Atid will be holding three events Monday night. Chairman Yair Lapid will join author Dr Micha Goodman for a discussion on Goodman’s book Catch 67 at the Tel Aviv Port.
MK Haim Jelin and Construction Minister Yoav Gallant will take part in an event honoring the Shomer Hadash organization near Tzipori in the North.
Former MK Dov Lipman will be holding an event with Beit Shemesh activists led by local Yesh Atid branch head Meir Malka.