Another view of Sukkot

/ Hadar Marhiv

Gilor Meshulam, Israeli shaliach (emissary), shared these photos of the sukkah of one of his army colleagues. Hadar Marhiv, a Samaritan from Holon, Israel, offers the following explanation:

“These days are very special for the Samaritans throughout Israel. We are preparing ourselves for Sukkot – which will be, by our lunar year (Samaritan calendar) on Oct. 15 this year. The Samaritans don’t consider themselves Judeans – but the sons of Ephraim (and not Judah). We have been living in the Land of Israel for more than 3,000 years – and we never left. Beginning in the 16th century, many Samaritans were killed by Crusaders, swordsmen and Muslim armies that conquered Israel. Therefore, we had to build the sukkah inside our homes. And we are still building the sukkah inside our homes – as you can see in the pictures. I would like to wish all my Jewish brothers and sisters across the world a great and meaningful Sukkot – and hopefully, we can continue to live as brothers as we have for more than 3,000 years, since we left Egypt together. Chag Sameach!”