A Note About Hoshana Rabbah and the BBQ Competition

We’re excited to welcome you to this year’s BBQ competition—an event that brings together great food, great people, and a deep sense of Jewish pride. This year, our celebration falls on Hoshana Rabbah, the final and spiritually rich day of Sukkot.

After thoughtful consideration and consultation, we’re proud to move forward with the event in a way that honors both tradition and community:

• Hoshana Rabbah is not a Yom Tov, so activities like cooking, driving, and gathering are fully permitted under Jewish law.
• We’ll be offering meaningful morning services on-site, so those who wish to daven together can do so in community.
• The competition will begin late enough to accommodate those attending services in their home communities and still make it in time.
• We’ll conclude well before sundown, allowing everyone plenty of time to head home and prepare for Shemini Atzeret.

This date was also chosen with an eye toward future years—when Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day does not coincide with a Yom Tov—as we work to establish a joyful, kosher BBQ tradition that celebrates Jewish life, community, and culinary creativity.

We’re thrilled to gather together in this spirit of celebration and connection.