Sukkot!

Right now it's Sukkot, the Jewish festival holiday when Jews traditionally visited the Temple in Jerusalem. Sukkot is the plural of the Hebrew word sukkah, meaning booth or hut. The sukkah represents the temporary dwellings in which the ancient Israelites dwelt during their 40 years of wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. Many Jews will build a sukkah in their backyards during Sukkot and spend time and eating meals there. It's decorated with leafy branches across the open roof, on which you hang fruit. Inside, there is typically a table with a lulav (bundle of specific branches) and an etrog (a yellow citron). Clearly building a sukkah is not an option for us, since we a) live in an urban condo with no backyard, and b) I currently live in a hospital room.

So, imagine my surprise when I found myself the lucky recipient of a sukkah in the mail! My incredible friend Jenny created a complete mini-Sukkah for my room! It has leafy branches, fruit hanging from the branches, and a table set with a lulav, etrog, candles, and challah. I spent this morning assembling it and it now resides on a chair at the foot of my bed. It's really amazing and was such a labor of love with all the fine details. Thank you Jenny, I love it!

PS-The pictures DO NOT do it justice.