How Many Poles Does it Take to Build a Sukkah?

How many poles does it take to build a sukkah? No, this isn't a bad ethnic or politically incorrect joke. It's a legitimate question. The answer is that it all depends on how big the sukkah is. For example, our 8 x 10 foot sukkah takes exactly 17 aluminum poles, plus some metal fittings, bungee cords, wall fabric, and bamboo mats for the roof.

In the last few years, we saw lots of music videos made just for the Sukkot holiday, which begins this evening and lasts for seven days in Israel and eight days everywhere else. This year the rage seems to be time-lapse videos of sukkah building, in which the hours that it usually takes are boiled down to a few minutes with the magic of time-lapse photography.

We selected a couple of these for your amusement as you reflect on the construction of your own sukkah, or if you didn't build one, on the architectural details of the sukkot you will likely sit in this week or observe as you walk through the streets of your community. One uses metal and wood poles, and the other is made from wood panels. Both videos use appropriate music to match the tempo of the speeded-up construction project.

Enjoy, and have a Chag Sukkot sameach! We'll be back on Chol Hamoed (Sunday) with our usual fun mix.

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)