Posted September 7 2007
10 Ways to Delve into Your Jewish Heritage on National Museum Day
This year the National Museum Day, a day where you can go to many of your favorite museums for free, is taking place on Saturday September 29th, or the Shabbat during Succot.
The L.A Times’ Jen Leo suggests that we “Delve into Jewish heritage at the Skirball Cultural Center near Santa Monica” (one of the participating free museums).
I think there might be better ways to delve into your Jewish heritage on that day:
1. Read about Succot. From the weekly Torah portion to Jewneric, there are plenty of places to find sources on this important holiday.
2. Eat a meal in a Succah. This celebration of harvests is often celebrated by feasting (seudah) the good old Jewish way….with way too much food.
3. Go Succah Hopping. Go from home to home collecting treats, singing songs, meeting new friends and seeing how each family builds and decorates their of Succah.
4. Remember the Temple. Amazing illustrations and books galore have been made about the two previous and the future Beit Hamikdash (Temple). Many people “go to parties known as “smachot beit hashoeva,” or, the rejoicing of the water pouring. This refers to a ceremony which took place in the Temple, where a water libation would be poured on the altar.” [from Great Jewish Music]
5. Take a Nap. Sleeping in the Succah is actually a really important Mizvah (commandment). Depending on your climate, this might even be a nice possibility.
6. Have some friends over. Just like our partiarch Avraham, having over some friends (Hachnasas Orchim) and throwing a big party is an important trait (midah) to acquire.
7. Dip the Apple in the Honey. It’s not Rosh Hashana anymore, but many people hold that we still go sweet on our Challah by dripping honey on the bread after making Hamotze until the end of Succot.
8. How Many Ways can you Spell Succot? Sukkot, Succoth, etc. See how many you can think of.
9. Ask an elderly Jew what Succot was like for them as a child. There is no better way to learn about your heritage than digging into some living history.
10. Greet Everyone with a Smile and a Hardy “Shabbat Shalom, Chag Sameah”.
Have a Good Shabbos and a Good Yom Tov!
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