Sukkot Extravaganza

In a logistically complex operation, the President of the Union of Jewish Congregations in Russia and the Commonwealth of States, Lev Levayev, has sent the special Four Species sets to 500 synagogues and congregations throughout the country. The sets come complete with laws and customs relating to the Sukkot holiday.The Four Species - a lulav (palm frond), etrog (citron), hadass (myrtle), and aravah (willow) - are acquired for the Personalized kippot Sukkot holiday in accordance with the Biblical command of Leviticus 23,40. A full set can cost 50-80 shekels, or under $20, with prices of higher-quality sets reaching several times that amount.The construction of the giant Sukkah - more than 1,500 square meters (1.5 dunams, or nearly 2/5 of an acre) - is also a Levayev project, together with Moscow's Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar. Holiday lectures will be delivered there, together with meals and holiday celebrations - all at no charge."We were able to circumvent the shortage of lulavs," said Rabbi Lazar, "because everyone involved did their work ahead of time. Now every Jew who wishes to will be able to celebrate the holiday."Close to 500,000 lulavs are expected to be sold in Israel this year. The Agriculture Ministry reports that though rumors of a lulav shortage have been circulated, these might be designed only to drive the prices up. The lulavs come from Jordan, Gaza, Jericho, and of course Israel, more than making up for the security-related ban on northern Sinai lulavs.The purchase of Israeli-made kippot (skullcaps) for the High Holiday season rose 25% over the annual average, and 5% more than before Yom Kippur of last year. Personalized kippot Tallitot (prayer shawls) also rose 15% over the annual mean rate, and 6% more than the same period last year. Tallitot were exported abroad at a 10% higher rate than last year.