Miami, FL – Shul Sets Up Drive-Through ‘Sukkah’

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    A sukkah has been set up in the parking lot of Bet Shira in Pinecrest. Officials of the synagogue are expecting lots of visitors during the annual harvest festival. GASTON DE CARDENAS / EL NUEVO HERALD STAFF Miami, FL – In our on-the-go-world, the drive-through is a haven for speed and convenience. We order fast food. We drop off our mail and pick up our dry cleaning.

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    But prayer? Yes, there’s now a drive-through for that.

    Jews can now motor into a temporary sukkah, a tent in the parking lot of Pinecrest’s Bet Shira Congregation, for a few minutes to pray, enjoy nature and get a bite to eat.

    Starting Friday at sundown, when the harvest festival holiday of Sukkot begins, Jews can visit its “McBet Shira Sukkah” — a makeshift wooden shell decorated with palm fronds and offering open views of the sky.

    It is situated in the middle of the temple’s parking lot at 7500 SW 120th St.

    Leaders say everyone is welcome to visit the sukkah. It will be up until next Friday.

    The new drive-through is the brainchild of Cantor Mark Kula, who believes it is the first of its kind.

    “This is a drive-through that will slow us down,” Kula said. “It does push the envelope a bit.”

    This modern-day vehicular resting place fits one car at a time. Its temporary feel — plywood beams anchored by barrels full of sand — is meant to evoke the fleeting nature of the places Jews visited during Biblical times.

    People now can drive into the sukkah and park, roll down their window and take part in ancient rituals. First they have to turn off their cell phones.

    There’s a blessing, which they will say in Hebrew or English: “Blessed is God, who guides us to celebrate Sukkot and hold the lulav and the etrog.” Then, a volunteer gives the driver and passengers the lulav (palm frond) and etrog (citrus fruit) to shake.

    “We hold and shake these symbols of nature in the sukkah and note that beauty surrounds us as we pursue peace in all directions,” explained Rabbi Micah Caplan.

    Finally, a volunteer gives the motorists a snack — perhaps a cookie and a glass of water or a juice box.

    Somewhere during that quiet time in their vehicles, Kula and Caplan hope that people take a moment to appreciate blessings in their lives.

    “It stirs in people a different awareness of the holidays,” the rabbi said.

    Martin Applebaum, president of the Conservative Bet Shira Congregation, said the drive-through sukkah was more than an automotive novelty. It bridges Judaism and modern life.

    “There are so many excuses people have not to come or participate,” he said. “We’ve come up with a way that you can be part of it during your normal activities.”


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    32 Comments
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    critic
    critic
    14 years ago

    what a stupid and ignorant thing: a)sukah with 2 walls is no sukah b) even if it were, eating in the car is not eating in the sukah; c) they invented a would-be blessing which has no meaning whatsoever – neither for sukah nor 4 species. I suppose it takes a “conservative/reform” brain to invent new rituals for a non-existing religion.

    Renegade
    Renegade
    14 years ago

    “People now can drive into the sukkah and park, roll down their window and take part in ancient rituals. First they have to turn off their cell phones.

    There’s a blessing, which they will say in Hebrew or English: “Blessed is God, who guides us to celebrate Sukkot and hold the lulav and the etrog.””
    which god “guides us to celebrate Sukkot” while sitting in a car in a non-kosher Sukkah?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Its better than nothing I guess….

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    My ruv is signing a kol korah against this succah since its puritz murabah al haumid

    RabbiYisroel
    RabbiYisroel
    14 years ago

    There are a few million Jews who do not go near a sukkah. If this will bring them one step closer, Baruch Hashem. If they drive through the first time, they can be convinced to get out and shake a lulav and sit for a few moments in the sukkah. step by step.
    The way to reach alienated yidden is bit by bit.
    Your approach of “it’s assur” will only push Yidden away even further. No one is asking you to drive into the sukkah. You Barch Hashem know better.
    By the way, Tzadik im Peltz, how many alienated, non observant Jews are YOU inviting into your sukah this year? probably none.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    way to go! shame chabad didn’t think about this one first!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    I worked in a Conservative school. They are ruining Yiddishkeit! If a Jew is led to believe that they can “do as they please” in order to be Jewish, there is a big mistake! A Succah that isn’t Kosher cannot be used as a Kiruv vehicle! Neither can driving to Shul be used as an incentive to come pray on Shabbos. Judaism must be introduced in its must authentic form.
    Of course, for a Baal Teshuva it’s important to tell them that they don’t have to keep the whole Shabbos (see inspire.com) in the beginning, but you can’t explain to them that long term Judaism is about “do as you please.” Long term Judaism is about the beauty and dedication that is a part and parcel of Judaism.
    For all those people posting negative comments, speak to your Rav. This abberation of a Succah, where people can just “drive through” instead of feeling the Succah in it’s real life form is terrible. People should come out of their car, see a smiling face, make a real Brocha on a Lulav and Esrog and have something to eat in the Succah.
    Blessings to all the authentic Jews who go out of their way with their mobile Succos (an authentic Succah that is on a truck) and are Mekarev their fellow Jews to Real Life Judaism.

    motek
    motek
    14 years ago

    you think thus is a kosher suka oy vey what’s happening with yje yidden these dayd

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    This is a real kiddush hashem if it brings even one yiddeshe neshama closer to yiddeshkeit. To all the close-minded bigots who posted above about how this is not in accordance with halacha, hashem will forgive your efforts to keep his yidden away from him. They will come slowly and in small incremental steps but if you think anyone becomes shomrei torah and mitzvot overnight, you are truly challenged.

    RabbiYisroel
    RabbiYisroel
    14 years ago

    There are a few million Jews who do not go near a sukkah. If this will bring them one step closer, Baruch Hashem. If they drive through the first time, they can be convinced to get out and shake a lulav and sit for a few moments in the sukkah. step by step.
    The way to reach alienated yidden is bit by bit.
    Your approach of “it’s assur” will only push Yidden away even further. No one is asking you to drive into the sukkah. You Barch Hashem know better.
    By the way, Tzadik im Peltz, how many alienated, non observant Jews are YOU inviting into your sukah this year? probably none.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    You people need to relax a bit and pull back your triggers. This sukkah was not intended to be a kosher, halachik sukkah. This was not intended for people who are Orthodox and who looking for a kosher sukkah to eat in. It was meant for the mullitiudes of Jews in this area who have a long ways to go before they get to the point of keeping halacha according to Orthodox standards. This is meant for Jews who in most cases have minimal exposure to their religion, let alone the holiday of Sukkot. This is a community of Jews where there is a far greater risk of intermarriage than saying a brocha in an unkosher sukkah. I am an Orthodox Jew and certainly do not agree with most of what Conservative Judaism teaches, but reading some of your comments even turned me off to Judaism, I can only imagine what it does for the non-observant. To think that there are so many Jews out there that can’t accept the efforts that some communities do to bring an ounce of Judaism into people’s lives is extremely discouraging. You don’t have to choose be a Jew who concerns him/herself with outreach but at least respect those that do.

    Hazzan Mark H. kula
    Hazzan Mark H. kula
    14 years ago

    Shalom Haverim,

    How wonderful it is that we can share matters of Jewish life. The comments are in line with our sages’ wishes for Talmudic discourse. This dialogue reflects the vibrancy of contemporary Jewish life and the powerful link of tradition to modernity. Our many voices join together in creating harmony of one people, under the Sukkat Shalom. Shabbat Shalom and Hag Sameach!!

    Hazzan Mark H. Kula.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    to all u people is this all u have to do on erev yom tov? how about going out ther and giving a helping hand to those less fortinit people who dont or cant putup a sukkah or dont have the meens to bye the arbah minem? i know that ther a lot of frum people that dont have money to even bye food for yom tov let alone a sukka or arbah minem!!! so lets not worry about a bunch of conservative or reform people but worry about are owen brothers in need in a very difacult time. ah gut yom tov!!!

    miami jew
    miami jew
    14 years ago

    This is a reform shul that is stugeling to survive. They had bring your dog to shul night last year. Its only a matter of time before the rest of the actual jews there will join Chabad at a real shul and enjoy the real jewish expirience.

    Nosson Meir
    Nosson Meir
    14 years ago

    Yasher koach Hazzan Kula. Some of us recognize that this drive in sukkah is merely a PR thing, and it got publicity both for your shul and for the mitzvah of sukkah. Having lived in Miami many years ago, I know you just wanted a shady place to park your car.

    genius
    genius
    14 years ago

    you can just open your sun roof to solve all halachic problems

    ces
    ces
    14 years ago

    If it had been Chazon Chumra instead of Chazon Kula, imagine how things could have been…

    Shmilfke
    Shmilfke
    14 years ago

    For convertibles it’s great

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    the bottom line is to do the mitzvah at the most proper way, BUT if these people wont get near a sukkah in the first place and through this they perhaps next year go to a more kosher one and do the mitzvot properly then its 100% correct, even more so its great what they are doing. step by step.(so just stop bring all ur “torah egoes” down a bit and look at the situation)