Gov. shows festive side in Sukkah celebration
Local chabads gather in New Brunswick to mark holiday
BY CHRIS GAETANO
Staff Writer

Above: New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine rocks out with musician Sandy Shmuely during a visit to the Grand Annual Sukkah Celebration at the Chabad House at Rutgers on Oct. 9. At right: Corzine signs autographs.

NEW BRUNSWICK - Whether or not hundreds of people's clothes got wet was entirely in God's hands on Monday.

That was when the Chabad of Central Jersey held its Grand Annual Sukkah Celebration in New Brunswick, where members of the Jewish community from all over the region celebrated the holiday.

The Sukkah, also the name for the structure where it is held, technically has something covering the top, but it's no roof. It would probably drip if there were snow, or flood if there were rain. A clear, blue sky is visible in the wide cracks between pieces.

"We sit in a sukkah, without a roof, because we rely on God for our welfare and, ultimately, our redemption, and this is the beauty of this holiday," said Rabbi Yosef Carlebach, of the Chabad House Lubavitch and the coordinator for all chabad activities in Central Jersey.

PHOTOSBYCHRIS KELLY staff

The holiday commemorates the 40 years the Jews wandered the desert in temporary shelters after leaving Egypt, guided by a cloud sent by God, hence the importance of the sukkah. Four different plants - a citron, a palm branch, a willow branch and three myrtle branches - gathered together are a large part of the holiday as well. Called the lulav and the etrog, they represent the different types of Jews in the world and stress the unity between them all.

Yosef Carlebach said the holiday is a joyful one, a marked contrast to the more somber holidays, which it is near on the calendar.

"We're all under the same roof, we're all equal, we're one, and we celebrate the holiday equally, whether the person is of the same religious background or not. What matters is that you're in there. ... We all go together and celebrate the same way, so no matter who you are, what your background is, the holiday is about unity," said Rabbi Mendi Carlebach, of the Chabad of North and South Brunswick.

As if to stress the point, the celebration was marked by a visit and short speech by Gov. Jon Corzine. Upon entering the sukkah, a throng of people surrounded him and he spent a great deal of time shaking hands and giving out hugs as he made his way to his seat. Those in attendance loudly applauded when he arrived, with the Sandy Shmuely Orchestra playing loudly in the background all the while.

"We all work together, we have the same aspirations, dreams and hopes for our community. In particular with regard to property taxes. Maybe we can have a festival of celebration after we get that done as well," said Corzine, who received quite a few chuckles from the audience for that remark.

A musical interlude followed Corzine's speech, where he and many others within the sukkah danced. Corzine said he followed the rabbis' lead during the dance.

Many present had a very positive reaction to the governor's presence at the event.

"It was very appropriate. He always speaks to the issue and he is a very smart man," said Lita Greenberg, from Highland Park.

"I thought it was very well put together. He's a close friend of the Jewish community and it was really nice for him to come out and spend the holiday with us," said Mendi Carlebach.