Praying on Sukkot, 1974

​This is a black and white photograph taken in 1974 of a group of men praying the Shacharit (morning) service during the festival of Sukkot. The men are wearing tallitot (prayer shawls) and holding the Arba Minim (Four Species) that are used on Sukkot. The men are participating in hoshanot, a special Sukkot ceremony which includes walking in a circular procession while holding the Arba Minim and reciting prayers. The prayer service is taking place outside in Jerusalem. Although they are standing beside large Jerusalem stones, the exact location of this photograph isn't known. Benches and chairs are set up for the men to sit on during the prayers. All of the men are wearing kippot (yarmulkes) and some appear, according to their clothing, to be ultra-Orthodox.

Discussion Questions

Observation

• What catches your attention when you first look at the photograph?
• How many people are in the photograph?
• Describe the people in the photograph.
• Describe the surroundings.
• Describe the objects in the photograph.
• What type of photograph is this? (family portrait, group photo, landscape, event photo, etc.)

Reading Between the Lines

• During which festival was this photograph taken?
  What makes you say that?
  What might the people in this photograph be saying?
• What time of day was this photograph taken?
  Which prayer service is this?
• Where might this photograph have been taken?
  Explain your reasoning.
• What would you have expected to hear if you had been there when this photograph was taken?

Connections

• Have you ever attended an outdoors prayer service in Jerusalem?
  What was the experience like for you?

Creative Ideas

• ​Paste a photocopy of the image in the center of a piece of white paper and draw what you think is happening outside the frame of the photo.
• Write an article or journal entry to accompany the photograph.

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