Organized by students of the Ramat Gan Hesder Yeshiva, known for its outreach activities, the project involves the holiday's Four Species, musical instruments, good will and a desire to connect with the people. The students will set up stands in many dozens of central spots throughout the country, and begin "working."
As modest as the promotional literature is - black print on a half-size piece of pink paper distributed in synagogues and yeshivot - that is how grandiose is the ambition of the organizers. "On Sukkot, we start to influence," the paper reads, "connecting the nation to holiness, connecting to the nation with holiness. Coming with the Four Species [citron (etrog) and palm (lulav), myrtle and willow branches] and musical instruments, bringing the joy of Sukkot to the street. Talking with Jews who gather around, singing together... Offering them the chance to fulfill the holiday commandments of lifting the lulav and etrog and of eating in the sukkah, talking relaxedly about Sukkot, about sanctity, about goodness, about the Nation of Israel, about G-d... Peeling away the rinds and the blocs, touching inside, and connecting."
"We no longer have to look at the street and be afraid," the organizers say. "We no longer think that we are small and weak. We're making a switch. We're onto the right source - the links with G-d. Let's go connect all of Am Yisrael with G-d! With courage, with love, with happiness, with ease, and with G-d's help! And this is just the beginning!"
Yedidya, a Ramat Gan student who is coordinating the project, says, "These are our brothers, and it's our responsibility to watch out for them." He and his friends are contacting students in other yeshivot and members of Torah core groups around the country - "everyone, actually" - to take part in their respective towns as well. "The goal is to have as many little groups as possible with musical instruments and Four Species. We already have 35 signed up, and we expect to have double that, at least."
"This is the opening salvo of a great revolution in our sector," Yedidya feels, referring to the religious-Zionist sector. "Until now, we haven't gone out [very much] to influence - but we just have to switch diskettes and know that we have what to offer. We start by giving them a chance to do mitzvot; that's the most basic level of showing our concern. For some people, it will be their first time ever holding a lulav and etrog."
Yedidya's view on current events is that "everything that happened here recently is of a spiritual nature. When Ariel Sharon built the Land of Israel, he did it because his heart told him to - and then one day, he asked himself, Why should we stay in Gaza? The disengagement had no security value, but he dragged everyone else along with that question. Ask a taxi driver on the street why he supports Sharon, and he won't know - but now everyone is asking what happened, what's the story, and we have to give the answer."
Other groups involved in the project or similar ones are Ma'yanaei HaYeshuah, Shaalei Torah, the OU Israel Center, Machon Meir, Rosh Yehudi, Makom BaLev, Nehora, and more.
As modest as the promotional literature is - black print on a half-size piece of pink paper distributed in synagogues and yeshivot - that is how grandiose is the ambition of the organizers. "On Sukkot, we start to influence," the paper reads, "connecting the nation to holiness, connecting to the nation with holiness. Coming with the Four Species [citron (etrog) and palm (lulav), myrtle and willow branches] and musical instruments, bringing the joy of Sukkot to the street. Talking with Jews who gather around, singing together... Offering them the chance to fulfill the holiday commandments of lifting the lulav and etrog and of eating in the sukkah, talking relaxedly about Sukkot, about sanctity, about goodness, about the Nation of Israel, about G-d... Peeling away the rinds and the blocs, touching inside, and connecting."
"We no longer have to look at the street and be afraid," the organizers say. "We no longer think that we are small and weak. We're making a switch. We're onto the right source - the links with G-d. Let's go connect all of Am Yisrael with G-d! With courage, with love, with happiness, with ease, and with G-d's help! And this is just the beginning!"
Yedidya, a Ramat Gan student who is coordinating the project, says, "These are our brothers, and it's our responsibility to watch out for them." He and his friends are contacting students in other yeshivot and members of Torah core groups around the country - "everyone, actually" - to take part in their respective towns as well. "The goal is to have as many little groups as possible with musical instruments and Four Species. We already have 35 signed up, and we expect to have double that, at least."
"This is the opening salvo of a great revolution in our sector," Yedidya feels, referring to the religious-Zionist sector. "Until now, we haven't gone out [very much] to influence - but we just have to switch diskettes and know that we have what to offer. We start by giving them a chance to do mitzvot; that's the most basic level of showing our concern. For some people, it will be their first time ever holding a lulav and etrog."
Yedidya's view on current events is that "everything that happened here recently is of a spiritual nature. When Ariel Sharon built the Land of Israel, he did it because his heart told him to - and then one day, he asked himself, Why should we stay in Gaza? The disengagement had no security value, but he dragged everyone else along with that question. Ask a taxi driver on the street why he supports Sharon, and he won't know - but now everyone is asking what happened, what's the story, and we have to give the answer."
Other groups involved in the project or similar ones are Ma'yanaei HaYeshuah, Shaalei Torah, the OU Israel Center, Machon Meir, Rosh Yehudi, Makom BaLev, Nehora, and more.