Kenyan Acrobats Perform at Lichtfield Sukkos Festival

Chabad Lubavitch of Lichtfield County, CT held a Sukkos festival Monday night. The Jabali African Acrobats performed outside in the plaza following an evening of kosher food and fun for the children in attendance.

“For the last 3,000 years there’s a seven-day period where Jewish people do not eat in their house,” said Rabbi Joseph Eisenbach, who organized the event. “They only eat in a Sukkah. It’s a time to rejoice. The Bible says that on this particular holiday, it is a holiday of rejoicing. So, the mitzvah, the command of the day is to rejoice.”

A Sukkah is a temporary booth, constructed for the holiday, where families eat during the holiday. Such a booth was constructed outside of Chabad Lubavitch for those in attendance to enjoy kosher hamburgers and hot dogs made on the grill. A moon bounce was also rented out for the children to play in.

“It’s a beautiful night to have a Sukkah,” Shirley Zimmerman said. “And what they’re having is blessings and a feast inside. So everyone eats together. It should be a very special night.”

An hour into the festivities, the Jabali African Acrobats performed. Nestor Fondo and his four compatriots are all from Kenya, Africa and have been performing together for five years doing fairs, festivals, colleges and halftime shows for sporting events.

The group demonstrated its acrobatic prowess by creating a human pyramid, balancing head-first on chairs stacked over 10-feet high, juggling and more. The Jabali group members invited members of the audience to limbo with them and help with hat juggling. The acrobats also showed off some impressive moves while leaping over a jump rope.

Chabad Lubavitch will move to a new location in the near future in the historic town center, following approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission back in May.