September 18th, 2013

International Equal Pay Day is observed to raise awareness about the gender pay gap and advocate for equal pay for work of equal value. This day highlights the ongoing struggle for gender pay equality and the need to implement policies and practices that ensure fair compensation, regardless of gender. Events on this day often include discussions, workshops, and public campaigns focusing on the causes of the pay gap, sharing best practices for achieving pay equity, and promoting women's economic empowerment. The day serves as a call to action for governments, employers, and society at large to commit to equal pay and to recognize the significant contributions of women in the workforce. It's a day to reaffirm the commitment to achieving gender equality and to create a world where everyone is compensated fairly for their work.

Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, is a joyous Jewish festival that commemorates the wandering of the Israelites in the desert for 40 years and celebrates the gathering of the harvest. The holiday lasts for seven days, during which families build and dwell in temporary structures called sukkahs. These sukkahs, often beautifully decorated with fruits, flowers, and other natural materials, symbolize the temporary shelters used by the Israelites and represent reliance on God. Sukkot is a time of hospitality and communal gathering, where meals are shared in the sukkah, and it's customary to welcome guests. The festival also includes the waving of the lulav and etrog, important agricultural symbols. Sukkot combines the celebration of nature's bounty with a reflection on gratitude and dependence on divine protection.