The 15th of Tishrei, which fell on Friday, September 29 this year, is when Sukkot, one of the more important Jewish holidays, begins. Jewish families pitch a tent or build a booth where every day, except on the Sabbath, they “dwell,” meaning they spend some time at the table inside, or spend the night in warmer climes. This is meant to remind us of the 40 years the Hebrew people dwelt in the desert following the exodus from Egypt living in tents.

The ŽydiškiPašnekesiai discussion club led by writer and journalist Arkadijus Vinokuras is inviting participants to come inside the traditional sukka this Wednesday, October 4, to talk about the Jewish holidays in the fall season.

“Sukkot is a week-long Jewish holiday which is celebrated five days after Yom Kippur. Sukkot celebrates the harvest and recalls God’s miraculous protection to the children of Israel after the exodus from Egypt. We celebrate Sukkot in a booth called a sukka decorated with vegetation and by handling the four species of vegetation,” Vinokuras said.

Jews have their own holidays, as do all peoples, connected with history, religion and periods of time. Holidays stimulate the continuity and continuation of Judaism from generation to generation and instil a sense of shared heritage and connection with the past.

This discussion will be held at Petras Cvirka Park across the street from the Lithuanian Jewish Community. Participants are to include Jewish cultural expert Natalja Cheifec, Choral Synagogue cantor Shmuel Yaatom, historian and teacher Aušra Pažėrė and oral folklore expert Dainius Razauskas. As usual, Arkadijus Vinokuras will serve as discussion moderator.

The panel discussion begins at 5:00 P.M. on October 4. It will be live-streamed on the Lithuanian Jewish Community’s facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/237519342278261/?ref=newsfeed