Sukkot Photo Feature: Be Happy and Rejoice

The Torah commands Jews to be happy on Sukkot. Israelis and tourists flocked to the Old City. Pictures of joy tell thousands of words.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

First Publish: 10/20/2008, 11:46 AM

Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

The Torah commands Jews in Deuteronomy Chapter 16, verse 15: "Seven days you shall celebrate for HaShem, your G-d, in the place which HaShem will choose; for HaShem, your God, will bless you, with all your produce and all your work and you will be only happy." Verse 11 commands, "And you shall rejoice before HaShem," and verse 14 states, "And you shall rejoice in your holiday..."

Jews today cannot carry out the commandment of festival sacrifices since the destruction of the Holy Temples, and prayers are offered in faith and happiness:

Praying at Western Wall during Sukkot
Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

Thousands of women prayed at the Kotel during Sukkot
Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

Beyond the Biblical commandment, the entire seven-day festival is filled with one of enjoyment of reliving the days of dwelling in the Sukkah.

Sukkah at Beit Yonatan (Pollard) in the old Yemenite neighborhood
Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

Jews in the Land of Israel participate in various hikes and tours to learn about the country. One popular tour this past week was in the Yemenite Village in eastern Jerusalem:

Inside house bought by Jews in former Yemenite neighborhood
Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

Visitors to the Old City were treated to various events, including the Pirchei Yerushalayim (Flowers of Jerusalem) boys' choir:

Jerusalem boys' choir entertains in Old City
Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

Near the Yafo (Jaffa) Gate, one shofar blower invited children to participate in the blowing of the ram's horn:

Child learns to blow the shofar in Old City
Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

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Sukkot Photo Feature: Be Happy and Rejoice