Anyway. SukkahSoul is, apparently, all the rage this year. I have to admit, that’s pretty nice-looking Sukkah. (Maybe not quite as awesome as last year’s Sukkot Shake, or the Grease-inspired Sukkah Building, but eh. We do what we can.) Last year, Sukkahless, I grabbed some friends, and we slapped together tiny Sukkot with kosher graham crackers, lemon icing with etrog liquer, and rosemary branches for the roof. Sure, half the fun was probably the number of “etrogitos” we put away while indulging my inner-children, but hey. Whatever. There are ton of resources for building your own sukkah, but I like this one, only for the mention at the end of Jewcy jack-o-lanterns, which I am a big fan of.

There are all sorts of sukkah-building kits like this, of course, or like this, too.

Here sister is doin’ it herself, and here is an interesting piece from Project Chana about using empty ushpizin chairs in support of domestic violence victims, and on that sort of note about helping women out, there is, apparently, a proposed boycott this year of a particular Sukkah-dealer’s goods, as he is not forking over a get for his wife, though they did obtain a civil divorce almost a decade ago, so groups are calling for a boycott of his sukkot for his recalcitrance. And, speaking of boycotts, the Jerusalem Post is reporting today about a potential educators’ strike after Sukkot.

Of course, there are a variety of things to do with your etrog post-Sukkot, ranging from the green-thumbed, to the recycled mitzvot to the delicious. As a side note, I have never seen an etrog this big in my life. Look at it! (Sorry about the lame music.)

Does anyone have any perhaps unusual or outside-the-box Sukkot traditions they want to share with the rest of the class? Hmm?

The post A Little Sukkot Round Up appeared first on Jewcy.

Everyone has a favorite martini—well at least Oprah does, so why can’t we?  Many of today’s trendy martini recipes call for lemon vodka. Luckily, Sukkot’s unusual custom of sniffing a citrus fruit (etrog) lends itself perfectly to a holiday-inspired cocktail—the Sukkotini.  With a splash of pomegranate juice and a hit of etrog vodka or liqueur, the Sukkotini features the best flavors of fall, and Jewish tradition. Serve this drink under the stars in your beautiful backyard sukkah (or, if you live in Brooklyn like I do), in the sukkah your friend threw up in the shared cement courtyard outside his building.

Sukkotini

Tip: You can make your own etrog vodka (see Etrog Moonshine below), and enjoy your martini sometime around Chanukah.  If you need your cocktail NOW, buy some pre-made etrog liquor here.

Ingredients

4 oz Etrog Moonshine (or etrog liqueur)
1 oz fresh lemon juice
½ oz fresh pomegranate juice
2 oz simple syrup

Directions

Shake all ingredients well with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass.  Garnish with a twisted etrog peel and serve.

Etrog “Moonshine” (Adapted slightly from Food.com)

Ingredients

3 Etrogim
3 cups vodka
1 ½ cups confectioners sugar

Directions

Scrub your etrogim to remove all the pesticide residue—and the germs from where everyone held and sniffed it during the holiday. Peel the etrogim, avoiding the bitter white “pith.” Put the peel in a 1-quart bottle with 2 cups vodka and close for a week.

Later, discard the peels. Add 1½ cups confectioners sugar and shake until dissolved. Add 1 more cup vodka and shake until clear. Close jar and store in a cool, dark place for at least 6 weeks.

(Image: Shutterstock)

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