If tonight were not the Sabbath, it would be the last night of the Simchas Beis HaShoeva's for this season. Here's the Bobov Hassidic sect's Simchas Beis HaShoeva from two years ago.
Here's the Simchas Beis HaShoeva from Mir Brachfeld last year. I'm sure many of you will recognize R. Nosson Tzvi Finkel zt"l, who passed away shortly afterward.
Here's a video of a Simchas Beis HaShoeva from two years ago, which was sponsored by a group called Pitchon Lev (Open Heart) at Tel HaShomer Hospital featuring Lip Schmeltzer.
This evening is the Jewish holiday of Sukkoth, and to prepare you for the rest of the week, here are some highlights of the Simchath Beith HaShoeva at the Karliner Hassidim last year.
Let's go to the videotape. More after the video
Chag Sameyach - A happy holiday to everyone.
Because I am considered an Israeli in Israel under Jewish law, my holiday is only one day rather than the two days in the rest of the world. So I will be back, God willing, on Monday night after the holiday ends.
It's too early (when I'm writing this - by the time you see this, I'll be getting up to head to the Western Wall for morning prayers) for videos of this year's Simchot Beit HaShoeva to be online. But here's a video of last year's Simchat Beit HaShoeva (a party held on each night of Succoth that is not the Sabbath or a holiday night) from Aish HaTorah.
I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for thirty-five years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 13 to 33 years and nine grandchildren. Four of our children are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004. You can contact me at: IsraelMatzav at gmail dot com