Watch: Simchat Beit Hasho'eva Celebrations Across Israel

Hag Sameach, Happy Holiday from Global Zionism to all our reader.


As the festival of Sukkot draws to a close, footage from joyous celebrations throughout the country.
Sukkot, with its unique Biblical command to "rejoice" over a new year and harvest season, is a very special time to be in Israel.

Celebrations and events take place throughout the country on each of the seven days of the festival, and in particular on the "intermediate days" ("chol hamo'ed" in Hebrew), during which religious restrictions on various activities usually forbidden on Shabbat (Sabbath) and festivals are more relaxed.

But perhaps the most boisterous of celebrations can be seen during the annual "Simchat Beit Hasho'eiva" (Rejoicing at the Place of the Water-Drawing), which commemorates the special water libation which was conducted towards the end of Sukkot in the Temple in Jerusalem, prior to its destruction in 70CE, known as "Nisuch ha-Mayim" ("Pouring of the water").

The Talmud relates that Sukkot is when God judges the world for rainfall, and relates that the "Nisuch Hamayim" was always a particularly joyous occasion, claiming that "He who has not seen the rejoicing at the Place of the Water-Drawing has never seen rejoicing in his life."

Worshipers carried torches, and were accompanied by the Levites, who administered in the Temple alongside the Kohanim (priests), playing harps, lyres and other musical instruments.

Although the Temple in Jerusalem still lies in ruins, Jewish communities across the world, and especially in Israel, still take part in celebrations of their own.

Below is a compilation of videos from across Israel, and in particular from hassidic communities, which place a special emphasis on the Simchat Beit Hasho'eva celebrations. The religious Zionist Merkaz Harav Yeshiva in Jerusalem is famous for its annual Simchat Beit Hasho'eva which draws crowds of celebrants from all over the country.

Arutz Sheva wishes all of our viewers a happy, enjoyable and meaningful chag!

At the tomb of First Century Tanna'itic sage and Jewish mystical, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, in the holy city of Meron

Celebrations in Jerusalem by the Biala hassidic sect

In the hareidi-religious city of Modiin Illit

Lalov hassidim celebrate in Jerusalem

Bobov hassidim celebrate in Jerusalem

Celebrations at the Merzak Harav yeshiva in Jerusalem (click herefor more coverage of that event)

Arab Breaks Chair on Elderly Jew's Head

Scenes reminiscent of 1920s and 30s becoming commonplace in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria.

Another day, another story of a brutal attack by Arabs against Jews. And as usual, most news outlets will not cover this news.

A large-bodied Arab man attacked an elderly Jew in Jerusalem's Old City last Saturday. The victim's daughter, Tali Hoffman, told Arutz Sheva that her father was making his way to Shacharit prayers, as he does every Sabbath, from his home in the Muslim Quarter to the Kotel.
When he arrived at HaGay Street, just a few dozen meters from the Kotel, the Arab man stepped out of a falafel shop and tried to knock him down by shoving a chair toward his legs. Having failed to knockdown the Jew, the Arab then threw the chair at Hoffman's head.

The chair broke from the force of the blow. Hoffman's father suffered a deep cut in his arm, which he had used to protect his head. The Arab escaped and other Arabs who were present did nothing to help the  bleeding Jew. Border Policemen who had been nearby escorted the Jew to the Kishle station, where he received first aid and lodged a complaint.

Hoffman noted that 15 years ago, her husband was murdered close to the spot where the attack took place. Her father lives in the house that his murdered son-in-law had built, in the Muslim Quarter. The house had been a stable and had belonged to Jews.

Hoffman said that her father did not want to talk about the incident. She explained that he had experienced the Holocaust and that people of his generation did not like to talk about things of this nature.

Brutal attacks against Jews have become increasingly commonplace in Israel, wherever Jews and Arabs live in proximity. Readers of Arutz Sheva are painfully aware of the situation, which is becoming reminiscent of the Arab Rebellion and popular terror of the 1920s and 30s, but other news media peddle a different narrative.

Whereas there was no Jewish police or army in the 1920s and 30s, they do exist today, but have been hamstrung by leftist subversion in the universities media, courts and political system.