Photos: Israeli Leaders Make Special Sukkot Blessings
Kfar Chabad Mayor Rabbi Yami Lifshitz gave Israeli President Shimon Peres a set of the Four Species to make a special blessing in the presidential sukkah in Jerusalem.
Chabad-Lubavitch representatives in Israel brought holiday cheer to the country’s leading governmental figures, giving leaders from across the political spectrum the chance to make a special blessing on a combination of a palm branch, willow branches, myrtle twigs and a citron – collectively known as the Four Species.
The annual Sukkot tradition of visiting the country’s ruling politicians took place in their governmental offices and their own sukkahs, temporary booths that are a feature of the weeklong holiday.
Known in Hebrew as an etrog, each of the citrons used came from an orchard in the central Israeli village of Kfar Chabad. Established decades ago, the orchard produces citrons descended from fruit grown in the Calabria section of Italy, home to some of the most prized citrons in the world.
State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss discusses the weeklong holiday of Sukkot with Rabbis Ariel Lemberg and Menachem Volpo. The box holds a citron, known in Hebrew as an etrog, produced from the orchard in Kfar Chabad.
Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger welcomed Rabbis Ariel Lemberg, Menachem Volpo and Naftaly Roth to his governmental office.
Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar received a book and one of the special citrons produced at the orchard in Kfar Chabad.
Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya’alon took the opportunity to make a blessing on the Four Species.
Intelligence and Atomic Energy Minister Dan Meridor also received a citron.
Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz sat down with his Sukkot visitors.
Regional Development Minister Silvan Shalom admires the Kfar Chabad citron.
Internal Affairs Minister Eli Yishai peruses a book given to him by a Chabad-Lubavitch representative.
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon makes a blessing on the Four Species in his Jerusalem office.
Science and Technology Minister Rabbi Daniel Hershkowitz examines his citron.
Education Minister Gideon Sa’ar discusses the Four Species with Rabbi Joseph Aharanov, director of Chabad-Lubavitch activities in Israel.
Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz enjoys the unique aroma of a fresh citron.
