By Melissa Hunter
Assistant Editor
On Sunday, September 10, the parking lot of the Mayerson JCC was transformed into an outdoor market for their 2023 Fall Market. More than 50 vendors set up booths offering everything from fresh produce to kosher baked goods to handcrafted goods by local artisans. If shoppers were hungry or thirsty, there was a variety of options to slate their hunger or quench their thirst, from Little Trolley Donuts to Billie Gold Bubble Tea to Marx Bagels.
In addition to shopping, visitors to the Fall Market had the chance to participate in the Chalk the Walk event with artist-in-residence Siona Benjamin. Benjamin’s unique perspective as an Indian-American-Jewish artist inspired her to create art that represents her transcultural and multicultural narrative. On Sunday, she offered a workshop on the Rangoli art form from India, and participants had the chance to select stencils and chalk in a rainbow of colors to decorate the J’s sidewalks. By the end of the day, the sidewalks were covered in beautiful interpretations of that art style by participants of all ages.
Also featured at the Fall Market was the Jewish Family Service (JFS) Sukkot Food Drive. JFS collected kosher and non-kosher food items, as well as personal care items, to benefit the Heldman Family Food Pantry.
The Fall Market fell ahead of the Jewish New Year and right on time for Sukkot, the holiday that gives thanks for the fall harvest.
