Succah’s coming home… to Wembley Stadium!
'We want to celebrate Succot in a national arena and show the Jewish community are part of British society,' said the chair of the FA's faith network
A Succah will be built inside Wembley Stadium next month to mark the Jewish festival of Succot.
The temporary shelter will be installed for a day behind the goal in October, but the exact date cannot be publicised for security reasons.
Guests will be allowed inside the succah to share food and listen to presentations given by charities and community leaders.
Invitations have been sent to Jewish football players and leadership groups, faith leaders and social action charities to join in on the celebrations – but the guest list has not yet been finalised.
Rabbi Alex Goldberg, chair of the Football Association’s faith network, said: “Wembley is the home of football so why not build a temporary shelter for Jewish people to celebrate the festival of Succot in the home of football, which is the home of our nation’s sport and a centre for many people of our identity?”
“Wembley is the national stadium and we want to celebrate Succot in a national arena and show that at this time the Jewish community are part of British society,” he added.
The event is not open to the public but speaking in a personal capacity, rabbi Goldberg said he aspires to hold similar ticketing events in Leeds, London, Brighton and Manchester in the future.
“We need to work with the clubs and perhaps public authorities to ensure that could be possible, and I really hope it is,” rabbi Goldberg said.
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