Have you ever heard the song, “Twist and Shout?”  I bet you have.  You just don’t know it.  Well, today, on Sketchy Scribe, we are coming to you, direct from Jerusalem (virtually – of course) to make you smile and give you something fun to think about.  We are also sharing a few golden oldie songs including a song called, “Shakin’ the Lulav.”

What the heck is a lulav, you ask?

Today, is the sixth day of yet ANOTHER Jewish holiday.  (Did you ever think I became Jewish just for ALL the holidays?!  I didn’t.  But I do love having fun.  That you know.)

This holiday is called Sukkot (Sue-coat).  Christians call it the Festival of Booths.  So, in Bible times, (Like when Jesus was around), the Jews would have a harvest in the autumn.  They would have huge parcels of land to harvest their crops. The Jews would create these makeshift temporary dwellings so they wouldn’t need to walk all the way home after a long day of harvesting their crops.  These dwellings were called sukkot or booths.  It became a holiday as Jews would spend seven nights in these sukkot with guests, having dinner, drinking wine and shaking the lulav.  A lulav (loo-lav) is a ceremonial object that includes a myrtle branch, a palm branch (remember Palm Sunday?  Look it up on the Search bar if not), a willow branch and a citron (a lemon like fruit).  Jews shake this ceremonial object in all directions.  There are lots of reasons why.  One reason Jews do it is to metaphorically say ” God is great in all ways – directions.” Whatever the reason a Jew does it, shakin’ the lulav is fun.

Celebrating Sukkot is fun!  Last night, I had a friend over and we ate dinner outside.  We drank wine, we talked and laughed.  Tonight, I’m going to the president of the temple’s house to celebrate sukkot in her sukkah (one dwelling).  All my Jewish friends will be there.  We’ll sing, drink wine and pray for a better world.  As usual, I will pray for peace with our family.  I know it’s a long shot, but in the meantime – “Shakin’ the Lulav” is lots of fun!