The walk into the famed Yankee Stadium is surreal. In the bustling Bronx, a borough of New York City, fans join in unity, blasting music, eating hotdogs, and wearing the iconic NY Yankee hat, ready to cheer on their team. With 50,000 like-minded fans close by, heartbeats excite, almost leaving one’s chest with all of the surrounding madness. 

While most reserve this feeling of uncontrollable excitement for moments like attending a New York Yankees game, these same emotions can be felt in a different type of arena. As Yankee Stadium is considered “holy ground” for most fans of the sport, another structure can evoke similar thoughts of holiness and sanctity: a sukkah. 

A sukkah, built by many Jewish families during the holiday of Sukkot, is one of the main symbols of the Festival of Booths and is often eaten or slept in throughout the week of the holiday. Unlike the bricks and mortar used to create baseball stadiums, Sukkahs are traditionally made from natural materials like wood, bamboo, pine branches, and palm leaves. 

Similarly to most baseball stadiums, a Sukkah is constructed with three full sides and one side with an opening. This opening can be seen in most stadiums in the outfield, where hard-hit balls have the opportunity to leave the ballpark. The relationship between America’s pastime and the holiday does not only include physical features but the events that occur on the inside, too. 

Picking up the Lulav (a cluster of various plant species) and Etrog (a lemon-like fruit) is almost as if they are stepping up to the plate. With both the Lulav and etrog in hand, one is instructed to shake the duo in six directions, signifying G-d is everywhere. 

While there are no consequences if done wrong, unlike a Major League Baseball plate appearance, the user has the ability to create a special bond between themselves and G-d. With each pitch thrown or direction shaken, the experience grows in value and makes the event a more memorable moment. Each dinner shared or conversation had in the sukkah is equivalent to the action in each inning during a baseball game. 

At the conclusion of every game, spectators shuffle out and return to the real world. Like in New York, one is immediately brought back to the vivacious city of the Bronx. When home, they realize Yankee Stadium has a special experience that can only be felt in the building. This is similar to a sukkah. Once one leaves the sukkah, they are transported back into the real world, but the memories and feelings shared inside this sacred hut are unforgettable.