Just hours after the first days of Sukkos ended, as many were heading to bed in preparation for an exciting Chol Hamoed ahead, the sound of hammers could be heard at New York City Hall. By morning, thousands of pedestrians walking down Broadway at Park Place were passing a sight that caused even the most seasoned New Yorker to take a second look.

“Did someone build a tent in front of City Hall?” people asked, assuming it was some sort of political statement.

The four canvas walls, topped with sheets of bamboo, was no political statement. For the first time ever, it was a Sukkah at City Hall.

The idea came from Rabbi Shmuel Butman, director of the Lubavitch Youth Organization, who proposed it to Councilman Chaim Deutsch early one September morning. Councilman Deutsch, who serves as Chairman of the City Council’s Jewish Caucus, had collaborated with Rabbi Butman before on innovative projects to benefit the Jewish community, and New York City as a whole.

Deutsch brought the idea to Speaker Corey Johnson’s office, as well as Pinny Ringel, who serves as top aide to Mayor de Blasio. After several weeks of discussions, Deutsch met with Inspector Howard Redmond, the commanding officer of the Mayor’s security detail, who also handles security at City Hall. Inspector Redmond agreed to the idea, and worked with Deutsch to secure an optimal location – on Broadway, near the entrance of City Hall, but still accessible to the general public.

Late in the evening of Tuesday, October 15th, the sukkah was built. By midnight, the first ever City Hall Sukkah stood tall.

The heavy winds started on Wednesday morning, the first day of Chol Hamoed. Deutsch arrived at the sukkah to find the schach caving in and the walls blowing precariously. As he called for the cavalry (aka the dedicated volunteers of Lubavitch Youth Organization), he stood against the back wall, holding the frame up with his own hands. Within minutes, staffers from both the City Council and the Mayor’s Office began stopping by with offers to help. They loaned hammers, rope, sandbags, zip ties, and their time to help reinforce the sukkah.

Meanwhile, dozens of New Yorkers stopped by to eat their lunches in the sukkah, marveling at the excitement of having a sukkah just steps from their workplace. Lubavitch volunteers stood outside the sukkah, drawing unaffiliated Jews to shake lulav and esrog and say a bracha inside of the sukkah. Some were teary-eyed, reminiscing about their childhood sukkahs.

By early afternoon, the sukkah was tightly secured, in preparation for a large “sukkah party” Deutsch planned to host on Thursday. Decorations were hung up by volunteers, donated by Ace Corner Hardware (2266 Nostrand Ave).

Overnight, heavy winds brought down sukkahs across the City and beyond. Deutsch joked that “we may have the first FLYING City Hall Sukkah” if the winds continued in ferocity. Early Thursday morning, Deutsch was notified by the NYPD security team that was watching over the sukkah that heavy winds had inflicted additional damage, and the frame of the sukkah was now bent.

Deutsch called Rabbi Butman with the news. “Should we cancel the party and take down the sukkah?”

Rabbi Butman insisted, “The show must go on.”

Deutsch called Inspector Redmond and passed the message along. “No problem,” said the Inspector. “We’ll make it work.”

And make it work, they did.

The sukkah party was scheduled to begin at noon, and by 11:30am, the winds had slowed down, the weather got warmer, and the repair work was completed. Council members representing every ethnicity visited the sukkah, as well as many staffers. It was packed, as visitors milled around, enjoying an Israeli-style lunch catered by Pita Express (15 Ann Street).

Leaders from across the City stopped by to say “Chag Samach” and enjoy the beautiful event.

Reflecting upon the entire affair, Deutsch said, “This was an absolutely remarkable experience. From start to finish, good people made this happen. From Rabbi Butman, to Pinny Ringel, to Inspector Redmond, to Speaker Johnson, everyone involved made the effort to ensure that we could share our joyous holiday with the entire city. I am so proud to have been able to put up (and hold up!) the first ever City Hall Sukkah. I am grateful to everyone who participated, and particularly those who volunteered their time and their tools to help us keep the sukkah up during the heavy windstorm. I look forward to many more City Hall Sukkahs, for many more years to come.”