The sukkah, which can house up to 650 people, will be open to the public during the intermediate days of the Sukkot holiday.
By Yulia Karra, ISRAEL21c
The municipality of Jerusalem announced that it has once again built the world’s largest sukkah for the week-long holiday of Sukkot, which begins this Friday night.
The 800-square-meter “Mayor of Jerusalem Sukkah” can house up to 650 people and will be open to the public during the intermediate days of the holiday, starting September 30 at 9pm and ending October 6 at 10am. From October 1-5, the sukkah will be open from 10:30am to 11pm. Entry is free.
During the holiday, the huge sukkah will host activities for the whole family: plays, musical performances, virtual reality activities, balloon workshops, a Jerusalem Quiz, and performances by children’s show star Little Michal, the Orna Porat Theater, Avital Edri, mentalist Assaf Salomon, the Pirchei Yerushalayim choir, Moshe Peled, Raviv Kaner, Shuli Rand, Haim Israel and others.
The construction of the sukkah began weeks before the holiday. A team of engineers and designers worked on the planning and design, as well as on establishing safety measures and choosing decorations.
The Jerusalem municipality is planning a host of other events across the city during the holiday.
These events include the Saharna celebrations at Sacher Park, the 11th Bethlehem Road Festival, The Priestly Blessing (Birkat HaKohanim) at the Western Wall, the Ein Kerem Festival, and klezmer music performances at Jaffa Gate in the Old City and in the Jewish Quarter.
In addition, the 68th Jerusalem March will be held on Wednesday, October 4, with tens of thousands of people from around the globe participating in the biggest event of its kind in Israel.
At the end of Sukkot, there will be hakafot — traditional dancing events in the large and small synagogues in all of the city’s neighborhoods in celebration of Simchat Torah.
The Old City walls and the Chords Bridge will be illuminated with a special blessing for pilgrims, and lighting poles will be decorated in a festive manner.
“We have invested a lot of thought, attention and resources to bring joy to residents and visitors of the city, and welcome the Sukkot holiday in a festive manner,” said the municipality in a statement.
“We have prepared a rich and diverse program for the whole family throughout the city, with events and ceremonies in the spirit of the holiday. The municipality invites all residents and visitors to take part in the many events that will be held during Sukkot all over the city, first and foremost the Sukkah in Safra Square and the Jerusalem March.”