Psst, Hey Buddy, Wanna Wave?

The purpose of this blog is to ride the Sukkot wave... Please share...

As a follow-up to last week's topic on Jewish identity, the following question was posed on a Jewish discussion forum yesterday:

My commute home from work involves me walking down 7th Ave through Times Square, and nearly every street corner had young Jewish men holding what I assume is a Lulav and Etrog based on what I've Googled so far (I only found out Sukkot was a holiday today as I'm trying to research this). They were mainly minding their business, but most of the groups stopped me and asked if I was Jewish (I'm not).

So I guess my question is why? What was their intention to stop me? What would happen if I was Jewish and said yes?

First of all, I love this question. I love that this person took the time to do some research, trying to get to the bottom of this lulav business.... "What do they want from me??!!"

Or perhaps: "Am I missing out on something?"

Equally interesting were the responses to the question. Some were purely factual:

It's a mitzvah (positive commandment) to shake the lulav and etrog on Sukkot, so people offer/encourage those who don't have their own to fulfill the mitzvah. Essentially you make the blessing, shake it in all 6 directions, and go on your way.

But others editorialized:

They are asking if you're Jewish in case you'd like to fulfill a mitzvah and shake the lulav and etrog with them. Since you're not, there's no mitzvah to be had unfortunately. But it's nice to be invited to the party even if you don't want to go, right?

This is jewcy and leads to so many questions for your table, such as:

How would you respond if a lulav-armed chassid stopped you and asked if you're Jewish?
Would you accept the offer and wave the four species?
Why only invite Jews? Are Gentiles not allowed to wave?


Happy Sukkot and

Shabbat Shalom

PS - Click the pic - I embedded a link to a most enjoyable family film on the theme of Sukkos.


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