Back for its second year, Sydney, Australia, hosted its annual Crown Heights-style Simchas Beis Hashoeva.

Building on last year’s success, the event brought the lively and youthful flavor of Chol Hamoed Sukkos in the ‘shechunah’ to the streets of Sydney.

Despite weather forecasts of rain, hundreds turned up to participate. The organizers even received a message from non-Jewish neighbours who walked past, expressing their support for the local Jewish community and the Sukkos celebration in particular.

The ‘Simchas Beis Sukkot Dance Celebration’ has become an annual Sukkot cornerstone, with plans already underway for expansion for next year.

The event, organized by Menachem Spielman of Tzemach Tzedek Community Centre, kicked off with a children’s rally led by Tzivos Hashem’s Rabbi Yehuda Straiton and his Sukkah Mobile, followed by all-ages communal dancing, a BBQ, and pareve gourmet gelato.

Over this Sukkos, Lulav & Esrog were shaken at the Sukkah Mobile by an estimated 400 people, thanks to the mivtzoyim efforts of Rabbi Straiton, the Yeshivas Levi Yitzchok Talmidim Hashluchim & Kesser Torah College volunteers. Additionally, at the event, shluchim from partner organizations shook Lulav & Esrog with many attendees.

The event was made possible by the generous support and efforts of community members, and co-sponsorship by the Deitz/Levin Family, in memory of Yehuda Aryeh Leib ben Mordechai Halevi. Tzemach Tzedek expresses its thanks to CSG, CHS, To Life Entertainment, DAÄS Gelato, Yeshivas Levi Yitzchok Sydney, Rabbi Yehuda Spielman, Jesse Nelson, Sam Babus of SB Creatives Photography, Shuie Smith, and Michael Shteyman.

The Simchas Beis was held in achdus together with many Sydney shuls and organizations, both Chabad and non-Chabad, including The Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS), CTeen Sydney, The Central Synagogue, Chabad of Bondi, CBD Chabad, Chabad Youth NSW, Cremorne Synagogue, Our Big Kitchen, Adass Yisroel Congregation, Bet Yosef (The Caro Synagogue), Dover Heights Shule, and Or Chadash / Coogee Synagogue.