D

uring the Sukkot 
holiday, the Pico-
Robertson neighbor-
hood of Los Angeles erupts in 
joyful celebration. Our 40-plus 
kosher restaurants all have suk-
kot attached. \ 
There’s a sukkah 
on top of Ralph’s 
supermarket. 
One could con-
ceivably sukkah 
hop to a different 
hut every five 
minutes and not 
exhaust the inventory. 
Google “Sukkah’s on Fire” to 
see my music video showcasing 
an assortment of local sukkot, 
accompanied by a wacky paro-
dy of the Jerry Lee Lewis “Great 
Balls of Fire” classic. The next 
video in the cue will likely be 
my brother Yom Tov’s enor-
mous Jerusalem-based sukkah 

going up in flames. A well-
placed security camera caught 
the tragic conflagration, and his 
kids mischievously added my 
song as a soundtrack. 
For those driving down Pico 
Boulevard, it must look strange 
to see all the Jews happily 
parading with palm fronds. I’m 
sure people wonder what we are 
doing with those sticks. Well, 
what are we doing with those 
sticks? Waving the lulav is per-
haps our most primordial chok 
(superrational commandment). 
We circulate the four species 
(willow, myrtle, palm and cit-
ron) in six directions during 
the daily Hallel service and then 
hold them aloft while marching 
around the bimah.
It’s really weird and a lot of 
fun. Some say we are unifying 
four types of Jews with vary-
ing degrees of knowledge and 

merits. Another theory: the 
species represent our spine, 
eyes, mouth and heart. Some 
say waving in six directions plus 
the center acknowledges God’s 
omnipresence. Others maintain 
it invokes a blessing for rain 
or favorably impacts the lower 
seven kabbalistic sefirot (Divine 
qualities). 

We have epic parties of our 
own in our 20-foot squared 
sukkah and often potluck with 
neighboring families. We cre-
ate a new decorative theme 
each year; past innovations 
have included Japanese Spa, 
Autumnal Splendor, Four 
Species Disco and my per-
sonal favorite, a Nacho Libré-

6 | SEPTEMBER 16 • 2021 

essay

The Joy of Sukkot

Sam Glaser

PURELY COMMENTARY

continued on page 8

1942 - 2021

Covering and Connecting 
Jewish Detroit Every Week

To make a donation to the 
DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 
FOUNDATION
go to the website
www.djnfoundation.org

The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) 

is published every Thursday at 

32255 Northwestern Highway, #205, 

Farmington Hills, Michigan. Periodical 

postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and 

additional mailing offices. 

Postmaster: send changes to: 

Detroit Jewish News, 

32255 Northwestern Highway, #205, 

Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334

MISSION STATEMENT The Detroit Jewish News will be of service to the Jewish community. The Detroit Jewish 
News will inform and educate the Jewish and general community to preserve, protect and sustain the Jewish 
people of greater Detroit and beyond, and the State of Israel.

VISION STATEMENT The Detroit Jewish News will operate to appeal to the broadest segments of the greater 
Detroit Jewish community, reflecting the diverse views and interests of the Jewish community while advancing the 
morale and spirit of the community and advocating Jewish unity, identity and continuity.

DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205,
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
248-354-6060
thejewishnews.com

Publisher
The Detroit Jewish 
News Foundation

| Board of Directors:
 Chair: Gary Torgow
 Vice President: David Kramer 
 Secretary: Robin Axelrod
 Treasurer: Max Berlin
 Board members: Larry Jackier, 
 Jeffrey Schlussel, Mark Zausmer
 
 
 Senior Advisor to the Board: 
 Mark Davidoff
 Alene and Graham Landau Archivist Chair: 
 Mike Smith
 Founding President & Publisher Emeritus: 
 Arthur Horwitz
 Founding Publisher 
 Philip Slomovitz, of blessed memory

 
 
 

| Editorial 
 DIrector of Editorial: 
 Jackie Headapohl
jheadapohl@thejewishnews.com
Associate Editor: 
David Sachs
dsachs@thejewishnews.com
Social Media and Digital Producer:
Nathan Vicar
nvicar@thejewishnews.com
Staff Reporter: Danny Schwartz 
dschwartz@thejewishnews.com
Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello
smanello@thejewishnews.com

Contributing Writers:
Nate Bloom, Rochel Burstyn, Suzanne 
Chessler, Annabel Cohen, Shari S. 
Cohen, Shelli Liebman Dorfman, Louis 
Finkelman, Stacy Gittleman, Esther 
Allweiss Ingber, Barbara Lewis, Jennifer 
Lovy, Rabbi Jason Miller, Alan Muskovitz, 
Robin Schwartz, Mike Smith, Steve Stein, 
Ashley Zlatopolsky

| Advertising Sales 
Director of Advertising: Keith Farber
kfarber@thejewishnews.com
Senior Account Executive: 
Kathy Harvey-Mitton
kmitton@thejewishnews.com 

| Business Office
 Director of Operations: Amy Gill
 agill@thejewishnews.com
 Operations Manager: Andrea Gusho 
 agusho@thejewishnews.com
 Operations Assistant: Ashlee Szabo 
 Circulation: Danielle Smith
 Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner

| Production By 
 Farago & Associates
 Manager: Scott Drzewiecki 
 Designers: Kelly Kosek, Kaitlyn Schoen, 
 Michelle Sheridan 
 

 

 

CHAMELEONSEYE/ISTOCK

