THE DRIVE THROUGH SUKKAH- WANT FRIES WITH YOUR LULAV?

BY TANIA VALDEMORO (Miami Herald)

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.
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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First it was the fake tallit scam from China. Now this. Wow! Life is good. Oh, one other note: some one should tell Cantor Kula and Rabbi Caplan that the blessing is not that God guides us, rather He commands us.