Jewish communities in New Jersey celebrate Sukkot

Jewish communities in New Jersey celebrated Sukkot, the Festival of Booths, through various traditional observances and outreach programs.

In Cedar Grove, Temple Sholom of West Essex held celebrations involving the use of the sukkah, the lulav, and the etrog. These traditions connect participants to the agricultural roots of the holiday and commemorate the Israelites’ period of wandering in the desert.

In Ocean and Western Monmouth Counties, Chabad organized a regional initiative using ten Sukkah Mobiles to bring holiday observances to shopping centers, schools, and senior living facilities. Coordinated by Chabad of Jackson, the mobile units allowed residents to shake the lulav and esrog and visit a sukkah. The effort reached nearly 5,000 people, with over 3,000 participating in the lulav shaking. Additional events included a Sukkah Deli night, a luncheon for the senior community, and SukkahFest at Camp Gan Israel of Central NJ, which drew 650 attendees.