Community news-roundup… SUCCOT SPECIAL!

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Sunny succot celebrations

Children from Nagila Nursery celebrated Succot by learning songs and shaking the lulav and etrog next to the succah at EDRS synagogue. Week-long celebrations for the children and parents, will end with a Friday afternoon Shabbat service of lighting candles, drinking grape juice and eating challah, along with singing all the songs they have learnt.

Alyth builds community succah

Around 100 Alyth members – both adults and children – joined forces on Sunday to build the synagogue’s community succah. Children brought fruit and vegetables grown in their own gardens to decorate it, while the laurel leaves (sechach) which cover the succah were grown in bushes on the synagogue site.

Rabbi Mark Goldsmith said: “Building the succah was a great way to come together as a community in joy right after the introspection of Yom Kippur. I love watching all generations working together to perform a mitzvah.”

A buffet lunch at Canary Wharf

Canary Wharf Group has been hosting buffet luncheons for members of the local Jewish community to celebrate Succot. The specially constructed succah, which sits at the heart of the Canary Wharf Estate, in Montgomery Square, and has a striking exterior with wooden latticing and an interior dining area hosted a lunch yesterday and will host another today and a third tomorrow. Sponsored by BGC Partners, Canary Wharf Group and KPMG, Danny Seliger, of Canary Wharf Group, said: “We have always been dedicated in supporting the Jewish faith, but more importantly the opportunity to welcome members of the local community to join in with the celebrations. We look forward to welcoming Stepney Jewish Community Centre, Brenner Community Centre, Rubens House, Holocaust Survivors’ Centre, Bikur Cholim, Redbridge Jewish Community Centre and members of East London synagogues, to the succah this year.”

Clore shalom’s diy succah!

Pupils from Clore Shalom Primary School in Shenley, from both Years 5 & 6, took to the succah they decorated themselves to celebrate the festival.

A family affair at woodford

Families gathered at Woodford Liberal Synagogue on Sunday evening to celebrate Succot, having decorated their succah with fruit and foliage gathered from their own  gardens and allotments. This year also saw for the first time, children cut out  their own paper leaves, leaving a name and message. Everyone took a turn in shaking the lulav and holding the etrog, after which everyone entered the succah for challah and wine. The evening was completed as members of the community joined together for a bring and share supper.

Charities get into the festive spirit

Children at Norwood’s nursery made succah decorations, while residents from across Norwood’s accommodations in London and Berkshire competed to create the brightest, most colourful succahs.

Elsewhere, two-year-old Jacob Hirsch enjoyed learning about Succot at Kisharon’s Tuffkid Nursery, in Golders Green.