Sukkot

Sukkot (also known as Feast of Booths or Tabernacles) is a significant, week-long Jewish holiday that occurs five days after Yom Kippur. It is one of the three biblically mandated festivals on which Hebrews were commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.

Etymology

The Hebrew word "Sukkot" refers to the temporary dwellings that farmers would live in during harvesting, a direct reference to the temporary dwellings in which the Israelites stayed during their 40 years of travel in the desert after the Exodus from slavery in Egypt.

Historical Origin

According to the Torah, Sukkot commemorates the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters. Sukkot is therefore a commemoration of the fight for survival in the desert and the final emergence into the Land of Israel.

Observance

Sukkot is celebrated by a number of activities. The most well-known is the building of the Sukkah, a temporary dwelling in which meals are eaten throughout the festival. Other observances include the waving of the Four Species, as well as additional prayers and meals.

Significance

Sukkot is considered a joyous festival and is often referred to as Z'man Simchateinu, the Season of our Rejoicing. It is a time to remember the wandering in the desert, but also a time to celebrate the gathering of the harvest and express thanks for the bounty of the earth.

See Also

• Jewish Holidays
• Hebrew Calendar
• Passover
• Shavuot