DETROIT—Last year, Rabbi Yisrael Pinson introduced what was likely the world’s first sukkah made from a shipping container; this year, the co-director of Chabad of Greater Downtown Detroit (locally known as “Chabad in the D”) took another groundbreaking step by using solar power to illuminate it.
While using power generated by the sun to heat a sukkah for a week might not be a significant energy-saver, Pinson’s motivation was as much spiritual as practical. “The sukkah has different components, some of which need to be undisturbed, such as the sechach [evergreen branches that cover the top],” explained the rabbi. “We were trying to do something similar with the lights.”
The sukkah represents the temporary huts erected by the Jews during their 40-year journey through the desert, and Pinson, who co-directs the Chabad center with his wife, Devorah, believes that using solar power instead of standard electricity enhances the concept of impermanence.
“The fact that it’s not tied to an electrical grid makes it more temporary,” he said, adding that solar power also saves energy compared to electrical lights, which are often left on during Shabbat and other holidays.
Because there were no kits or off-the-shelf solutions available, putting the idea into practice proved a bit challenging.
Phreddy Wischusen, 35, who works part-time at “Chabad in the D” and studies with Rabbi Pinson, connected with Brandon Knight, 32, co-founder of Distributed Power, a Detroit-based company that specializes in green enterprises such as solar-energy systems. Knight designed the system, acquired the necessary parts and materials, and completed the installation.
Wischusen said using light derived from the sun is a reminder that everything comes from a Divine source.
The sukkah uses a string of LED lights, but the basic system could be used with other kinds of bulbs as well. For instance, the rabbi says that this year’s giant menorah at Campus Martius Park in Detroit, which has been erected there for Chanukah the past four years now, is going to be powered by the new solar system.
‘Absorbing the Torah’
“After leaving Egypt, we spent 40 years absorbing the Torah in the desert, and that energy is fueling us today,” said Wischusen. “This open-topped structure [the sukkah] is not the shelter—the shelter is G‑d.”
Pinson began a tradition last year of reusing the branches from the sukkah in a multi-season cycle that lasts through the springtime holiday of Lag BaOmer. “When we took the sukkah down, we felt we should do something with the branches,” he said. “We were retiring our garden for the winter, so we used the branches as a holy covering for the garden.”
Once spring arrived and the garden was uncovered, the branches were used in the traditional Lag BaOmer bonfire; the ashes from the fire were then used to fertilize the garden.
“It was good for the environment and also helped us perform the mitzvah of the Lag BaOmer fire,” said the rabbi.
This year, a new panel of the shipping container was painted by graffiti artist Emor of Oak Park, Mich.. He and Detroit artist Sintex collaborated last year on the mural on the sukkah’s northern side.
Shipping-container Succah with solar lights. What amazing initiative to create a succah using such a mundane item as a shipping-container. It certainly must have elevated some sparks transforming it for a divine purpose. Thinking about divine sparks, what an inspiration to use solar power for the lighting. It so relates to Beresheit and the creation of light, bringing yet more meaning to the words ' He illuminates the earth ..... and in His goodness perpetually daily renews the work of creation.' Then using the branches of the sechach to shelter the plants in winter, and for the Lag b'Omer bonfire, and the ashes to enrich the garden soil. This really demonstrates bringing the divine into our daily life and so transforming mundane purposes. Thank you for this inspiring account.