Celebrate Sukkot Under the Open Skies
Atlanta Jewish Times Editor Michael Jacobs is on his second stint leading the AJT's editorial operations. He previously served as managing editor from 2005 to 2008.
One of the benefits of living in metro Atlanta is that even when Sukkot falls late — it doesn’t get much later than this year’s Sunday night, Oct. 16, beginning — the weather is usually warm enough to make spending the night in the sukkah a treat instead of a challenge.
The AJT again invites you to send us photos of your decorated sukkah to share with the community. Email your photos, preferably in a high-resolution format, to submissions@atljewishtimes.com by Thursday night, Oct. 27, and we’ll publish a gallery in our Nov. 4 issue (something festive to lift our spirits as the Nov. 8 elections draw closer).
Meanwhile, the area is full of fun ways to celebrate our harvest holiday.
SATURDAY, OCT. 15
The Children’s Museum of Atlanta, 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive, downtown, incorporates the holiday into its programming today and Sunday. On Saturday, enjoy a telling of “Sammy Spider’s First Sukkot” at noon, learn simple dance steps to klezmer music at 2 p.m., and create paper flowers to decorate a sukkah or build a miniature sukkah out of wood, branches and cardboard throughout the open hours of 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It’s all included with the regular admission of $14.95; childrensmuseumatlanta.org. The same options are available Sunday, except that the museum closes at 4 p.m., the “Sammy Spider” story is at 2 p.m., and the klezmer dancing is at 3.
SUNDAY, OCT. 16
Jewish Kids Groups gets a jump on the official start of Sukkot with a picnic, face painting and other fun activities, including a camp fair, at noon at its Old Fourth Ward site, 386 Pine St. It’s free; www.jewishkidsgroups.com/sukkot-parties.html.
One sukkah just isn’t enough for Ahavath Achim Synagogue, which is building a village of seven mini-sukkot — some aimed at special groups such as preschoolers, one meant for the whole community — at 4:45 p.m. at 600 Peachtree Battle Ave. in Buckhead. When the construction is done, a potluck dairy dinner starts at 6, with the traditional blessings shaking things up at 6:45. It’s free; www.facebook.com/events/1251837784836988 or lgrossman@aasynagogue.org for more information.
Temple Kol Emeth turns to an Old World folk tale, the story of Stone Soup, but adds a competitive twist to mark the start of the holiday: Families not only bring fresh items for the soup pot and canned food to donate (and perhaps adult beverages to share), but also choose among half a dozen teams or form their own to make the best potluck soup. Sign up by Oct. 14, and it’s free. After that, it’s $5 per person or $15 per family; www.eventbrite.com/e/stone-soup-in-the-sukkah-with-a-twist-tickets-27418900670.
The Atlanta Scholars Kollel and Anshi celebrate the first night of the holiday with a festive meal at 6:30 in the sukkah at 1324 N. Highland Ave., Morningside. The fee is $18; info@anshisfard.org or www.anshisfard.org.
Chabad of Cobb starts the festival with an elegant dinner at 7:15 in its sukkah at 4450 Lower Roswell Road, East Cobb. Reservations are $30 for adults, $19 for ages 7 to 12, and $13 for ages 3 to 6; www.chabadofcobb.com/sukkahdinner.
Temple Sinai goes Italian for its Una Bella Notte nella Sukkah dinner for adults at 6 p.m. in the courtyard at 5645 Dupree Drive, Sandy Springs. The cost is $18; templesinai.wufoo.com/forms/z1dm5gpi18oae6j.
Chabad Intown keeps it causal the first night with an open house in the sukkah. Swing by and have some sushi under the stars. Email Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman at rabbi@chabadintown.org for the details.
TUESDAY, OCT. 18
The Temple’s Women of the Well travel across Atlanta to Barcelona Vino Teca at 299 N. Highland Ave. for a Sukkot wine tasting. The cost is $25, paid online in advance at the-temple.org.
Congregation Etz Chaim’s Young Adult group hosts Sangria in the Sukkah Oct. 18 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Enjoy meeting new friends and catching up with old and of course, enjoy a refreshing sangria or beer under the stars. This event is FREE and open to the community. RSVP at etzchaim.net/sangriasukkah. For more info contact Heather Blake, program director, at heather@etzchaim.net or 770.973.0137 Ext. 125.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 19
Chabad of Cobb at 4450 Lower Roswell Road in East Cobb is catering to the ladies with a screening of the Israeli etrog comedy “Ushpizin” at 6:30 p.m., along with sushi and soup. The fee is $14; visit www.chabadofcobb.com to reserve your place.
It’s also a night for the ladies at Chabad of North Fulton, 10180 Jones Bridge Road in Alpharetta, where women are invited to partake of a soup bar in the sukkah at 7:30 p.m. Email admin@chabadnf.org, or call 770-410-9000 for details.
THURSDAY, OCT. 20
Chabad of North Fulton at 10180 Jones Bridge Road in Alpharetta celebrates Sukkot the Southern way with barbecue and family fun (crafts, inflatables and more) at 5 p.m. It’s $5 to get in, and food is an additional charge. Visit www.chabadnf.org, or call 770-410-9000 for details.
Chabad Intown’s YJP group jazzes things up with an open bar, sushi, socializing and the 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Band at 8 p.m. in the sukkah at the home of Rabbi Eliyahu and Dena Schusterman, 990 St. Charles Ave., Virginia-Highland. Register in advance and it’s $10; at the door it’s $15. Visit www.yjpatlanta.org/#events.
Congregation Etz Chaim’s Men’s Club hosts it’s annual Steak and Scotch in the Sukkah event for guys only on Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. $45 per person includes Steak and Scotch. RSVP for the event at etzchaim.net/sukkahsteak. Contact Jay Givarz for more info at jay.givarz@lionbank.com.
FRIDAY, OCT. 21
SOJOURN holds a breakfast program about its work in the Southeast at 7:30 a.m. in the sukkah at Congregation Shearith Israel, 1180 University Drive, Morningside. Tickets are $18; www.sojourngsd.org/calendar/sukkah.
Congregation Ner Tamid decorates its sukkah at 1349 Old Highway 41, Suite 220, Marietta, and celebrates with music, crafts, a potluck feast and a special holiday service led by Rabbi Joseph Prass at 7:30 p.m. Free; www.mynertamid.org.
SATURDAY, OCT. 22
Steve and Heleen Grossman of Steve’s Live Music plan to lead a music jam from 7 p.m. until late in the night at their home sukkah with Mic Levine and friends and community members who want to join in. The suggested donation to attend is $10, with all proceeds going to the Atlanta Community Food Bank. RSVP to steve@steveslivemusic.com for the address.
Adults in their 20s and 30s are invited to join Temple Sinai’s newest rabbi, Sam Shabman, and her husband, Rabbi Natan Trief, at their home at 8 p.m. for Havdalah, cocktails, noshing and a discussion about making Sukkot meaningful today. Sign up at templesinai.wufoo.com/forms/z1opu7mn01m98wi to get the details.
SUNDAY, OCT. 23
Jewish Kids Groups joins with Bayit@OVS to celebrate Sukkot with face painting and a camp fair, with pizza for sale, at noon at Congregation Or VeShalom, 1681 N. Druid Hills Road, Brookhaven. Free; www.jewishkidsgroups.com/sukkot-parties.html.
The Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, holds a fall festival, including a petting zoo and live bluegrass from the Cohen Brothers Band, for families to celebrate Sukkot from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. It’s free; atlantajcc.org or 678-812-4161.
An urban farm, Aluma Farm at 1150 Allene Ave. in Atlanta, plays hosts to a Sukkot farm-to-table dinner highlighting local Jewish chefs and restaurateurs at 4 p.m. Tickets are $45 (ages 12 and under free); bit.ly/2dnjFqZ.
Temple Beth Tikvah wraps up its sukkah fun with pizza in the hut at 5 p.m., followed by a Simchat Torah service at 6. It’s free, but RSVP by Oct. 21 at www.bethtikvah.com/calendar/event/2016-10-23/sukkot-pizza-hut.
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