First Sukkah for Wollongong
For the first time in its history, the small Wollongong Jewish community is celebrating Sukkot in its own Sukkah.
In the Wollongong Sukkah
Every Sukkot for the past decade, Young Adult Chabad’s Rabbi Eli Feldman drives his “Sukkahmobile” (A Sukkah on the back of a truck) down the scenic coastal highway from Sydney to the City of Wollongong for a picnic and Sukkot celebration with the locals.
The event is hosted by KEVA (Kibbutz Ex Volunteers Association) and AUJS (Australiasian Union of Jewish Students) with a mix of Wollongong University Jewish students, academics and community members in attendance.
The Festivities include Kosher Food, shaking the Lulav and Etrog and singing to popular Jewish and Israeli tunes.
Yoke Berry, the coordinator of KEVA said that “every year we have more participants and every year we wait for this event so that we may enjoy the Sukkah as well as the bagels, lox and spiritual inspiration that comes with it!”.
This year, Yoke and her husband Bill decided to build a Sukkah in their backyard, and with Rabbi Eli Feldman’s guidance it was deemed fully Kosher and operational!
All in attendance, including longstanding Wollongong Jewish locals such as Professor Greg Rose, said that in their understanding this is the first time in History that a Sukkah has been built in Wollongong!
The use of a Sukkah throughout the Seven Days of the Holiday has been quite a treat for the locals, with the Berrys making it available for community members to come with their friends and family and eat a meal any time throughout Sukkot.
For more information and if you are in the Wollongong area and would like to pop into the Berry Sukkah this Sukkot please call Yoke on 0403 976 620
