Over 250 inmates and family members gathered at Rikers Island for a Sukkos celebration featuring religious observance, entertainment, and moments of genuine human connection.
The program included the mitzvah of blessing the lulav and esrog in the sukkah — a central ritual of the holiday carried out with care inside the facility. Magician Eliyahu Joseph and other entertainers delighted the crowd throughout the afternoon.
The Avigdor Zeitlin orchestra provided music that prompted spontaneous dancing and singing among participants and staff alike. Organizers wove inspirational remarks about the meaning of Sukkos between performances.
A particularly significant moment came during the Torah reading, when an infant received a mishebeirach blessing while both parents were present — a rare occurrence that brought the room to stillness. Individual hakafos followed, giving each person an unhurried moment with the Torah.
The event was coordinated by rabbinic leaders and the Lubavitch Youth Organization, with gratitude extended to correctional staff for making it possible.
