Nostalgic, CSL Urban Agriculture plan adopted

Councillor Ruth Kovac, Mayor Anthony Housefather and Councillor Glenn J. Nashen celebrating adoption of the CSL urban agriculture initiative

The goals and principles stated in the Food Charter set the tone for all the “Côte Saint-Luc Grown” initiatives. Over the coming weeks and months, residents of all ages will have the opportunity to participate in urban agriculture, in whatever ways suit their lifestyle. They can sign up for a space in one of our new community gardens or plant their own backyard or balcony garden. They can participate in gardening classes at the library and get involved with the demonstration garden located behind it. People can shop at the CSL farmers’ market, subscribe to a food basket, and more.

All these initiatives, the brainchild of City Manager Tanya Abramovitch, are further explained in a comprehensive document available on the city’s website in English and in French.

I was pleased to support the adoption of this plan, as seconder at this week’s public council meeting.  The notion of growing and buying one’s food close to where they live is gaining traction as the rebirth of an olden day practice.

I recall the stories of my grandfather, Avrum Nachshen, the fruit wholesaler, who would buy boxes of apples, pears, oranges, lettuce, carrots… from the importers located at the fruit terminal on Richmond St.   He would service his customers at grocery stores throughout the city. This was his occupation from 1928 until about 1960.

As well, his brother, my Uncle Motle, had a grocery store called M. Nachshen.  (He was located on Duluth at the corner of City Hall, now Hotel de Ville in the 1930s and 1940s, then moved to Cuthbert, corner Clark, until about 1950, St. Lawrence near Villenneuve until 1970).  He specialized, and was famous for his sour pickles.

Then there was my Uncle Fred Schertzer who would pull up to our house on Cork Ave always with a trunk full of fresh fruit and veggies from the Marché Central.

So it seems appropriate, and somewhat nostalgic, for me to support this excellent initiative.  You can see it’s part of my roots!

A day of remembrance, honour and appreciation

Victory in Europe Day was marked today in the City of Cote Saint-Luc.  This annual event marks the day in history that ended World War II.  In Cote Saint-Luc we have held our annual commemoration on VE Day for nearly two decades as our veterans have grown older and November 11 has become too cold for them outdoors and it is difficult to draw a crowd.

Cote Saint-Luc cenotaph in Veterans Park

The event is held in Veteran’ Park on Cavendish Boulevard next to City Hall.  Dignitaries including diplomats and elected representatives from all levels of government join with clergy, veterans and their families, city staff, emergency personnel and volunteers to mark the solemn occasion.

I was particularly pleased to have my three year old son and 10 year old daughter join me and my wife along with my father, 89 years old and a veteran of the Royal Canadian Air Force.  My father served in London, England and shares his memories of the bombardments and of friends who never returned from the front lines.

Cote Saint-Luc volunteer Emergency Medical Services honour guard: Kelly Malka, Louis-Pierre Fournier, Adam Gossack

Mayor Anthony Housefather never disappoints with his traditionally passionate speech of appreciation to those who served and to those who returned to build our city and community.

Howard Liebman, Chief of Staff to Mount Royal Member of Parliament Irwin Cotler gave an eloquent speech on behalf of the MP.  Cotler was in Jerusalem on this day.  Liebman’s speech highlighted the numerous interventions by the MP to signal gross violations of human rights, genocides and unspeakable atrocities that continue around the world.  He said that it is the obligation of all free people to speak out against such horrors such as that which is going on today in Syria, Iran, on the African continent and other hotspots around the world.

Police Commander Sylvain Bissonnette and Public Safety Director Jordy Reichson

D’Arcy McGee Member of the National Assembly Lawrence Bergman spoke of the importance to respect those currently serving.  He singled out the PQ’s Bill 14 as being fundamentally unjust to those serving in Quebec in the Canadian Armed Forces who would be forced to educate their children in French rather than English   The provision in Bill 14 would add a level of stress upon the soldiers, Bergman said, should they be transferred with their families to another province where there children would then be at a disadvantage in an English school.

MNA Lawrence Bergman

As the City Councillor responsible for Public Safety I was honoured to join Cote Saint-Luc Public Safety Director Jordy Reichson in laying a wreath on behalf of the department. The department includes EMS, vCOP, Public Security, Emergency Communications and Emergency Preparedness.

The event was emceed by the Legion’s Brigadier Frederick Kisch Branch 97 president, Frank Levine. The co-chairs were Councillors Ruth Kovac and Allan J. Levine.

Members of the Cote Saint-Luc volunteer Citizens on Patrol

The hot sun and slight breeze was comforting for the aging veterans, who, sadly, are fewer in number each year.

Mayor Anthony Housefather with veterans looking on

Dutch Honourary Consul and Cote Saint-Luc resident for 25 years, Michael Pollak, noted that while not nearly enough Canadian kids are conversant and knowledgeable enough about WWII, that is certainly not the case for school kids in the Netherlands.  Pollak said that the lessons and experiences of the war are etched into Dutch psyche, and his countryman know full well about the heroic liberation led by Canadian soldiers, some of whom were likely sitting right before him in today’s crowd.

Three generations of Cote Saint-Lucers: George, Glenn and Jeremy Nashen

The 306 Wing Maple Leaf Concert Band:

Read more on Councillor Mike Cohen’s blog

Global News coverage

Veteran Michael Kutz

Howard Liebman delivers a stirring message

Mayor Anthony Housefather with veterans looking on

Legion member Sandy Bernstein

vCOP Team Leader Elaine Meunier

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V-E Day commemoration ceremony in Côte Saint-Luc on Sunday, May 5, 2013

Royal Canadian Legion (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Members of the Brigadier Frederick Kisch Branch 97 of the Royal Canadian Legion, Mayor Anthony Housefather, the Côte Saint-Luc city council, dignitaries, veterans and residents will commemorate Victory in Europe (V-E) Day on Sunday, May 5 at 2 pm at Veterans Park.

 

“My generation and those of my children and grandchildren will never be able to fully pay back the Canadian soldiers who fought to defeat tyranny during the Second World War,” said Ruth Kovac, who is the co-chairperson of this event with Councillor Allan J. Levine. “By liberating Europe our veterans also ended the genocide against the Jewish population of Europe and others targeted by the Nazis.”

 

VE Day parade in Cote Saint-Luc 2008

Councillor Levine said we must continue to honour those who have served and those families who lost loved ones for our country.

 

“I encourage everyone to come on May 5 and show support for our veterans who still continue to do so much for our community and look after their own,” Councillor Levine said. “Indeed, this year our veterans raised more than $31,000 during last November’s Poppy Fund Campaign. Those funds were then returned to the community through donations to local organisations, such as the Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation, the Royal Victoria Hospital, the Jewish General Hospital, the Salvation Army, the Old Brewery Mission and many others.”

 

Cote Saint-Luc cenotaph in Veteran’s Park

Victory in Europe (V-E) Day was May 8, 1945, the date when the Second World War Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany. The cenotaph at Veterans Park honours the memory of those who gave their lives in the First World War, the Second World War and the Korean War.

 

VE Day 2008: Mayor and City Council with Parade Marshall Bob Feldstein in CSL Veterans Park

This year’s commemoration will be conducted by Brigadier Frederick Kisch Branch 97 President, Frank Levine. Veterans Park is located next to the City Hall and library (5801 Cavendish Blvd.) In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held indoors at the City Hall.

George Nashen in front of the Cote Saint-Luc cenotaph in Veterans Park on VE Day 2012

Cotler rises in the House of Commons to salute Holocaust survivors

Mount Royal Member of Parliament Irwin Cotler rose in the House of Commons on April 23, 2013 to salute and praise survivors of the Holocaust.

If you will it, it is no dream

This evening, Joel Lion, the Consul General of Israel, welcomed hundreds of diplomats, elected officials from all levels of government and leadership and friends of Israel and the Jewish community to the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization’s expansive and impressive world headquarters.  The occasion was a celebration in honour of Israel’s 65th anniversary of independence.

Notables including former premiers Jean Charest and Bernard Landry were in attendance as was PQ minister Jean-Francois Lisée, Montreal Mayor Michael Applebaum and city councillors from Cote Saint-Luc, Hamsptead. St-Laurent, CDN-NDG and as far away as Alma and St. Agathe.

Israel’s Consul General Joel Lion delivers powerful words

His Excellency. Mr. Lion, welcomed the entire gathering with a passionate, energized speech citing that the Jewish Nation’s connection to the State of Israel may be 65 years old in the modern context but extends back 3700 years.  Jerusalem forms the physical and existential heart of the Jewish People, Lion said, and has been so for thousands of years.

Lion spoke of two historical figures, Napoleon and Herzl:

The story is told that Napoleon was walking through the streets of Paris one Tisha B’Av. As his entourage passed a synagogue he heard wailing and crying coming from within; he sent an aide to inquire as to what had happened. The aide returned and told Napoleon that the Jews were in mourning over the loss of their Temple.Napoleon was indignant! “How come I wasn’t informed? When did this happen? Which Temple?” The aide responded, “They lost their Temple in Jerusalem on this date 1,700 years ago.”Napoleon stood in silence and then said, “Certainly a people which has mourned the loss of their Temple for so long will survive to see it rebuilt!”

As to Theodore Herzl, who was born some 153 years ago this week, Lion cited the visionary, founder of modern Zionism, in saying, “If you will it, it is no dream.”  The Jewish People, Lion stated, never lost hope of returning to Zion, even after 2000 years of exile.

Quebec Minister of International Relations Jean-Francois Lisée addresses audience as Israel’s Consul General, Joel Lion looks on

Lion then welcomed Minister of International Affairs, Jean-Francois Lisée who didn’t find much sympathy with the largely federalist, anglo crowd by speaking of his vision of the common path of the State of Israel and Quebec. Once warmed up he spoke more personally about his upbringing in Thetford Mines. Lisée indicated that he had no knowledge of the Jewish community.  His only reference point, he said, were the letters INRI, inscribed above the head of Jesus, in the church.  The inscription signified Christ was, “King of the Jews.”

It wasn’t until Lisée moved to Montreal as a 22 year-old that he learned that the familiar Steinberg’s and Greenberg’s retail chains he knew from his hometown were actually owned by substantial Jewish families.  Only upon moving to the big city did he learn about anti-semitism, he said.

The very friendly crowd were most pleased to greet one another, shake hands with some of the personalities and enjoy the Israeli wine and off-beat musical entertainment (A Jewish rapper? Oy vey!).

Councillors Glenn J. Nashen, Ruth Kovac and federal representative Howard Liebman in ICAO entry hall

Cote Saint-Luc was well represented by Councillors Ruth Kovac (with husband Peter), Dida Berku (and Jacob Kincler), Mitchell Brownstein (and Elaine Yagod), Allan J. Levine (with Rhoda) and yours truly (with Dr. Judy Hagshi).  D’Arcy McGee MNA Lawrence Bergman was also present and received warm applause   Mount Royal MP Irwin Cotler, who is in Ottawa (as Parliament is currently sitting) was represented by his trusty attaché, Howard Liebman.

Israel’s 65th Day of Independence

Montreal’s Israel Day Rally takes place this morning.  Click for full details and info on free transportation.

Today we remember in sadness: Yom Hazikaron

An emotional Yom Hashoah ceremony in CSL

The annual Yom Hashoah commemoration was held last evening at  Congregation Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem (on Baily Rd in  Côte-Saint-Luc). The ceremony helps to perpetuate the memory of all those who were murdered during the Holocaust, to honour the survivors. It reminds us of our collective responsibility to remember the Holocaust and to protect individuals and communities from oppression, hate, racism and discriminatory policies. This community-wide commemoration is  organized by the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre.

Read more first hand reporting on Councillor Mike Cohen’s blog.

Related articles:

‘We won’t be calmed,’ Peres tells March of Living participants (The Times of Israel)

Army chief in Auschwitz: IDF ‘shield’ against second Shoah (The Times of Israel)

Netanyahu at Shoah ceremony: ‘We won’t leave our fate in the hands of others’ (The Times of Israel)

Jewish Montreal in the 20’s: “The Main”

Joe King addressed the Cote Saint-Luc Senior Men’s Club this week and gave this very interesting account of Jewish Montreal in the 1920′s.  Read the full entry, “The Main”, on Councillor Mike Cohen’s blog.

 

Montréal – Mile End: St. Viateur Bagel Shop (Photo credit: wallyg)

Housefather and Roy defend English-speaking cities

Cote Saint-Luc Mayor Anthony Housefather and Town of Mount Royal Mayor Philippe Roy appeared before the Quebec National Assembly hearings into Bill 14 this morning.  They did a stellar job at defending the acquired rights of the English-speaking communities residing in 86 bilingual municipalities and boroughs throughout the province.

The snarky language minister Diane de Courcy pressed the mayors on why they hadn’t consulted their residents (in a referendum) as to whether or not they wished to have bilingual status, suggesting the mayors spoke emotionally and not based in fact.  Such chutzpah and warped logic, to poll the majority on the rights of the minority, is to be expected from the narrow-minded PQ.  A testy liberal MNA Geoff Kelley shot back that the PQ themselves hadn’t consulted the population before they wiped out these two cities through forced mergers.  His microphone was abruptly shut off for being too smart.  Way to go Geoff!

“It concerns me that you haven’t consulted your residents,” de Courcy asked of Housefather.  ”And, you haven’t consulted other areas, such as Cote des Neiges-NDG, that would probably vote to acquire bilingual status,” a very wise Housefather retorted.

Housefather went on to press his point.  ”In some countries, bilingual status is obligatory in municipalities where 5% of the city’s population is a minority community. Nowhere, other than Quebec, is it prohibited to have bilingual status unless the minority forms the majority,” the mayor quipped, in reference to Bill 14′s provision that a city would lose its bilingual status if its minority language population fell below 50%.

When asked what he would propose as a way to make Bill 14 acceptable to municipalities, Housefather responded he was not prepared to negotiate away fundamental rights.  Roy stated that the autonomy of city councils must be respected as they are closest to the people, best placed to represent its residents.

While PQ MNA Daniel Breton spoke in exclusionary and divisive language the mayors described their towns as inclusive, where respect and equality prevail, as should be the case with all Quebecers.  ”What do you propose we do for immigrants to make Bill 14 better?” the MNA asked.  Housefather replied, “If my parents moved to Quebec with me in the 20s, if I’ve used English as my preferred language for 90 years, and if I’m now excluded from your calculation as to who is an English-speaking Quebecer, you’re draft law is unfair!”

Housefather explained that there are three ways of classifying language in the census: mother tongue, language used at home and preferred language.  Bill 14 chooses the most restrictive classification: mother tongue.  A Quebecer is branded by the language of his or her mother, effectively reducing the English-speaking community in Quebec by nearly 300,000 individuals.

D’Arcy McGee MNA Lawrence Bergman was next to speak.  He said that is all of his years in elected office he had never received so many calls from constituents as he did for this bill, except against the forced mergers.  He read a letter from a local English-speaking resident of Italian origin who wrote that his family chose to live in Cote Saint-Luc because of its welcoming, bilingual environment.  None of his family are considered as English-speaking in this legislation.

Housefather too said he had not seen such fierce opposition to a draft bill, save for the mergers, in his 17 years in city hall.  Bill 14 scares English-speaking people, he said.  The message of the bill, Housefather said, is that English-speaking people are not respected.  ”You’re a problem,” the bill tells us.  ”We’ve evolved.  We’re bilingual.  We built our city, and we’ve been a majority in it for years!” the mayor told the commission.

The CAQ member, Nathalie Roy was only partially opposed to the bill, unfortunately.  ”The CAQ doesn’t want bilingual status to be touched.  Cities need to be able to decide for themselves.  This is an acquired right of the minority community,” the MNA said.  She then asked Housefather what would happen if the bill passed?

“There would be chaos,” Housefather asserted.  ”Either the city would refuse to obey the law and would fight it in court or you’d have citizens in the streets,’ the mayor concluded. “It would change daily life, the way we live.”

Thankfully the English-speaking community was represented by such fine individuals such as Housefather and Roy.  They spoke with passion and conviction and although I’m confident that bilingual status provisions of the french language charter will remain unchanged it remains to be seen if Bill 14 will be scrapped in it entirety and deposited in the trash bin of of oppressive Quebec legislative history where it rightfully belongs.

Related articles

• Quebec government hears criticism on controversial language bill (cbc.ca)
• Bilingual mayors call Bill 14 ‘disrespectful’ on first day of hearings (CTV News)
• Bill 14 hearings: Linguistic peace threatened, Côte St. Luc mayor warns (Montreal Gazette)
• Des maires dénoncent le projet de loi 14 (La Presse)
• Cote St Luc mayor says Bill 14 threatens linguistic peace at hearings (Global News)
• Language wars: Quebec unions share ‘horror stories’ of civil servants who used bilingualism to help citizens (National Post)
• Le maire de Côte-Saint-Luc prédit le chaos linguistique (TVA)
• Anglophone leaders predict loss of ‘linguistic peace’ if Bill 14 passes (Globe and Mail)
• Chaos linguistique appréhendé (Journal de Montreal)
• Le PLQ, la CAQ et des maires s’opposent au projet de loi 14 (Radio-Canada)

A command performance at vCOP meeting

Glenn J. Nashen with Police Commander Sylvain Bissonnette

Montreal Police Station 9 Commander Sylvain Bissonnette was the special guest speaker at last week’s bi-monthly patrol meeting of Cote Saint-Luc’s volunteer Citizens on Patrol (vCOP).

The local police chief is also a historian and volunteer commander of the St. John’s Ambulance.  He spoke to the membership about the history, philosophy and guiding principles of policing in the western world.

Modern policing systems are derived from French and British legal systems, Bissonnette explained.  Sir Robert Peel, 19th century British Prime Minister, was a driving force in creating the Metropolitan Police Force in 1829, based at Scotland Yard, while he served as  Home Secretary. The 1,000 constables employed were affectionately nicknamed ‘Bobbies’ (a term still used today).

“Modern police forces are by the people, for the people,” Bissonnette told the volunteers.  ”They are there to serve and protect based upon the rules of law and good order, and not at the whim of whomever is in charge of the state, as is the case in dictatorships around the world.”

“The scrutiny over police is extensive,” the commander explained, indicating that there are numerous oversight bodies, both official and unofficial  including the media as well as the average citizen armed with a smartphone video camera. Such was the case with the now famous story about Constable 728 who was videotaped aggressively pepper-spraying student protesters and others.  The video was uploaded to Youtube, covered by national and international media and the officer was disciplined by the force.

The commander concluded saying that the police force is a dynamic and evolving organization, showing off the new vehicles and uniforms that will take effect beginning next month.

Many thanks to Commander Bissonnette for continuing to inspire the members of CSL vCOP.  His collaborative style and optimistic outlook is refreshing.  His tireless efforts have ensured that Cote Saint-Luc remains the safest community in the Montreal Agglomeration.

For more information on CSL volunteer Citizens on Patrol or to join please visit the vCOP website.

Remembering Marty Penn

Rabbi Martin Penn

Rabbi Martin Penn was an outspoken Jewish leader, visionary and human rights advocate.  He was a great Montrealer, a great Canadian.

I volunteered alongside Canadian Jewish Congress staffer Marty Penn during my McGill and post-university years. He was a passionate advocate to free the Jews of the Soviet Union. Even back in high school, I recall marching to the gates of the Soviet consulate off Doctor Penfield Avenue, chanting “Let My People Go”.  Marty Penn was there leading the crowd.

I organized two JNF trips and several CJA trips to Israel and each time we greeted hundreds of overjoyed Jews arriving in their ancestral homeland from the former Soviet Union.  I can’t help but give some credit to Marty Penn for their freedom.

In the 80′s, Mike Cohen invited me to get active with Congress and I was invited by Marty Penn to join him in co-chairing the Jews in Arab Lands Committee for the Quebec Region as well as the Syrian Jewry Task Force. Marty and I took marching orders from Toronto’s Judy Feld Carr, a modern day miracle worker and one of my heroes of the 20th century.

A couple of years ago I was privileged to co-chair, with Mike Cohen, the Cote Saint-Luc Human Rights Walkway induction of several human rights advocates including Marty Penn.

Sadly, Marty Penn passed away last week.  He will long be remembered for dedicating his all too short life to helping others in need, of putting those who were oppressed  and those who were denied their freedom and basic rights ahead of himself.  Marty’s efforts were indeed of grand proportion.  His legacy of self sacrifice and commitment to the Jewish People and to all who yearned for freedom will endure.

May Rabbi Martin Penn’s memory be a blessing, an inspiration for generations of students and young leaders whom he loved to teach and to motivate.  He will be missed.  He will be remembered.

Read an excellent tribute on Mike Cohen’s blog: Rabbi Martin Penn: a real hero leaves this earth

Canadian Jewish News

Lest we forget

Recognizing our heroes.  Honouring their courage. Never forgetting their sacrifice.

This was the theme of last Thursday’s annual Remembrance Day commemoration in Hampstead.  I enjoy attending this event each year because of the large turnout of school children from the community and experiencing the moment and the memories together with them.

Longtime Hampstead Public Security officer Mike Fitzgerald was the master of ceremonies.  Once again, Fitzgerald demonstrated his unique skills at blasting out commands to the soldiers assembled there from the Royal Montreal Regiment.

Councillors Glenn J. Nashen (2nd from left) and Ruth Kovac (4th from right) join Hampstead Town Council, Police Commander Bissonnette, members of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Royal Montreal Regiment

With beautiful words of welcome to the children, Mayor William Steinberg, handed the program over to the students from Hampstead School, Solomon Schecter Academy, JPPS, Ecole de la Mosaique (on Guelph in CSL) and Ecole des Amies du Monde (on Mackle Road).  With great inspiration and enthusiasm, the kids recited poems and sang songs of remembrance.

Councillor Ruth Kovac and I were invited to deposit a wreath on behalf of the City of Cote Saint-Luc.

Councillors Glenn J. Nashen and Ruth Kovac, accompanied by Hampstead Town Manager Richard Sun, representing the Royal Canadian Legion, deposit a wreath

The mood was solemn, the air crisp and silence prevailed at just the right moments, not an easy task for a couple hundred school kids.  It was a splendid opportunity to pass on the tradition of honouring those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Kudos to the Town of Hampstead, Mayor Steinberg and Members of Council along with organizer Chandra Devenyi, Interim Supervising Manager, for a wonderful and dignified event.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

Read more:

Mike Cohen’s recap of Remembrance Day ceremonies in Cote Saint-Luc

Remembrance Day 2012

Make remembrance more than something you feel. Make it something you do.

Each year, from November 5 to 11, Canadians join together to celebrate Veterans’ Week – this year is no different.

During this week, hundreds of commemorative ceremonies and events will take place across the country to recognize the achievements of our Veterans and honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

This year, once again, I pay tribute to my father, George Nashen, who served in the RCAF during WWII.  Stationed in London, England, he was lucky to have been selected to serve in the overseas administration.  He endured the bombardments and hardship of everyday life in London but fortunately was safe relative to so many others. Many of his close buddies never returned from the front lines.

Each year, I ask him to take out his medals and his beret and to teach my own kids what it meant to serve Canada as a soldier.  They listen in amazement at his stories, at what must sound like a very strange concept, as they reflect on their lives in the best country to live in, Canada.

This year, I salute my dad, once again.  His bravery and commitment to stand on guard, to liberating those who had their freedom taken from them so many years ago, to keeping Canada glorious and free, shines like a beacon to my kids and our entire family.  We’re proud of his accomplishments and grateful to have him, and my mother, as our bridge between our past and our future.

George Nashen in front of the Cote Saint-Luc cenotaph in Veterans Park on VE Day 2012

Photo of the Week #21: Sukkot in CSL

If you’re not familiar with the Jewish festival of Sukkot you may have looked curiously upon the many huts, or Sukkahs, protruding oddly from the side and back lots and balconies of homes throughout Cote Saint-Luc over the last week or so.  Of course, there’s nothing odd in a tradition that has lasted for two millennia (although only the last five decades in Cote Saint-Luc!).

In this shot, Mackle Road resident Maya holds up the Lulav and Etrog in front of her Sukkah. Maya and her family will eat several meals in their Sukkah and invite guests and neighbours to join in the tradition that has transcended the ages.

For forty years, as our ancestors traversed the Sinai Desert prior to their entry into the Holy Land, miraculous “clouds of glory” surrounded and hovered over them, shielding them from the dangers and discomforts of the desert. Ever since, we remember G‑d’s kindness and reaffirm our trust in His providence by dwelling in a sukkah – a hut of temporary construction with a roof covering of branches – for the duration of the autumn Sukkot festival. For seven days and nights, we eat all our meals in the sukkah – reciting a special blessing – and otherwise regard it as our home.

Sukkot is also called “The Time of Our Joy” (Zman Simchateinu) – a special joy pervades the festival. Celebrations and festivities fill the synagogues and streets with song, music, and dance until the wee hours of the morning.

It is customary at this special time of the New Year to wish one another a Chag Sameach (in Hebrew), a Gut Yontif  (in Yiddish). May we all (and I mean everyone) be inscribed for a year of happiness, good health, prosperity and peace.

 

More: Celebrating the “Time of Our Joy” in Cote Saint-Luc