Diplomats and students from 5 religions and over 15 countries spanning 5 continents met in the Sukkat Shalom, hosted by Diplomacy.co.il together with Debate for Peace.
For the third year, Diplomacy.co.il organized Sukkat Shalom meetings with diplomats and diplomacy students from around Israel. This year the meetings were held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, October 11-13. Participants were welcomed to the sukkah, the traditional structure built during the holiday by Jews all over the world, where they enjoyed refreshments, and learned about the holiday.
A short explanation about the sukkah was given, including the agricultural components of the holiday and its symbolic significance, including reminding people to count their blessings, and leaving the permanence of the home to engage with neighbors and the environment. The four plant species were also introduced, and all the guests got to hold and examine them. Moreover, the guests were told about the third commandment of the holiday–to rejoice and be happy on the holiday!
After the introduction, the diplomats introduced themselves and took questions from the diplomacy students, who ranged from 7th grade to university students. The participants also shared experiences about what the holiday meant to them.
In total over 50 people visited the Sukkat Shalom, with the majority visiting a sukkah for the first time. Among the participants this year were the ambassadors of Ethiopia, Finland and Kazakhstan, as well as diplomats from the embassies of Ecuador, the Philippines and Hungary, and the Jerusalem Representative of the Baha'i International Community, and students from Belarus, Brazil, France, Germany, Iran, Russia, the US and Vietnam, as well as Nablus and ten cities around Israel.
Shai Milstein Gomes, a counselor at the Givat Haviva International School, shared with Diplomacy.co.il that he believes that “through sharing cultural experiences, we open ourselves to new perspectives and new cultures. Having diplomats joining us in a Sukkah for a Jewish holiday is a heartwarming moment that successfully demonstrates international acceptance and respect for our Jewish traditions.”
Mr. David Freeman, the Jerusalem Representative of the Baha'i International Community, said “Thank you for hosting us in your sukkah today! It was a real pleasure to spend time together.”
Vanaya Madera from the embassy of the Philippines added “thank you for inviting us to the sukkah. It was an immersive experience of the Jewish tradition and religion. We hope to have more mutually beneficial opportunities in the future.”
Diplomacy.co.il thanks all of the participants, and wishes all those celebrating a Happy Sukkot holiday.
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