The joyous festival of Sukkot –
(in Hebrew: Chag Ha Succot), also known as “The Feast of Booths”, or “The Feast of Tabernacles”
is celebrated by Jews from October 12 – 19, in 2011.
In the Jewish calendar, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Jews will start celebrating Sukkot on the sunset of Wednesday, the 12th of October.
Sukkot is observed 5 days after the fasting and atonement of Yom Kippur and is one of the biblically mandated Three Pilgrimage Festivals, known as the Shalosh Regalim (Pessach, Shavuot and Sukkot), when Israelites living in ancient Israel and Judea made a pilgrimage to the Temple of Jerusalem, as commanded by the Torah. Sukkot completes the biblical trilogy began with Passover and Shavuot. This cycle begins with the fleeing of the people of Israel from Egypt (Passover), continues with Moses receiving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai (Shavuot), and concludes as the Israelites wander the desert living in huts (Sukkahs) and awaiting their entrance into the Promised Land. Sukkot is the third and final celebration in the Exodus from Egypt. It is also a Harvest Festival.
The huts (Sukkahs) which are built up for the festival are intended as a reminiscence of the type of fragile dwellings in which Moses and the ancient Israelites lived during their 40 years of wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. These huts were made of branches and were easy to assemble, take apart, and carry as the Israelites wandered through the desert. During Sukkot, those who observe the festival spend a lot of time celebrating and living in a Sukkah. The Hebrew word Sukkōt is the plural ofSukkah, which means “booth, tabernacle”.
Sukkot is celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei (late September to late October).Tishrei is filled with many other holidays, such as Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur and Simchat Torah.
In modern day Israel (and among Reform Jews), Sukkot is a 7-day holiday, with the first day celebrated as a full festival with special prayer services and holiday meals. Outside the land of Israel, the first two days are celebrated as full festivals and also the last two days are most important. The remaining days are known as “Chol HaMoed” (“festival weekdays”). The seventh day of Sukkot is called “Hoshanah Rabbah” and has a special observance of its own.
Sukkot is considered a joyous occasion and is also referred to in Hebrew as Yom Simchateinu (the day of our rejoicing) or Z’man Simchateinu (the time of our rejoicing).
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AGRICULTURAL ORIGIN
Sukkot hearkens back to times in ancient Israel when Jews would build huts near the edges of their fields during the harvest season. One of these dwellings was called a “Sukkah”.
These dwellings not only provided shade but allowed the workers to maximize the amount of time they spent in the fields, harvesting their food more quickly as a result.
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SUKKAH
The Book of Vayyiqra (Leviticus) describes the Sukkah as a symbolic wilderness shelter, commemorating the time God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness they inhabited after they were freed from slavery in Egypt.
The Sukkah (often translated as “booth”) itself symbolizes the frailty and transience of life and its dependence on God.
At the beginning of Sukkot (often during the days between Yom Kippur and Sukkot) people construct a Sukkah, the focal point of the Sukkot Festival, which is a temporary hut constructed for use during the week-long festival of Sukkot.
In ancient times people would live in the Sukkot and eat every meal in them. In modern times people most often build a Sukkah in their backyards or help their synagogue construct one for the community.
In Jerusalem some neighborhoods will have friendly contests to see who can build the best Sukkah.
Getting ready to build a huge Sukka in Jerusalem’s Old city:
A group of young men is unloading the panels and planks to build a huge Sukkah in front of the restored Hurva Synagogue.
In the Jewish Quarter people rush to the kotel to say selichot (prayers) as well as to make preparations for the festival:
The requirement to dwell in the booth can be met by eating at least one meal a day in it. However, some Jews still sleep in the Sukkah as well. If it is raining then the commandment to eat in the sukkah is postponed until the weather is more accommodating
Sukkahs are often well decorated with flowers, leaves, fruits, vegetables, autumnal, harvest or Judaic themes. Many people hang decorations such as streamers, shiny ornaments, and pictures from the interior walls and ceiling beams in a Sukkah. Fresh, dried or plastic fruit — including etrogs and the seven species for which Israel is praised (wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates) are popular decorations.
Some families also line the interior walls with white sheeting, in order to recall the "Clouds of Glory" that surrounded the Jewish nation during their wanderings in the desert.
Huge Sukkah built in Safra Square (Jerusalem Municipality) in 2009:
At the beginning of a meal in the Sukkah a special blessing is recited:
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam,
Asher kidshanu b’mitz-vo-tav v’tze-va-noo,
L’i-shev ba-sukka.
Translation:
“Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who has sanctified us with commandments, and commanded us to dwell in the sukkah.”
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Construction
A Sukkah consists of at least three walls, framed with wood and canvas.
The walls can be constructed from any material which will withstand a normally anticipated terrestrial wind. If the material is not rigid, and therefore will sway in the wind, the Sukkah is not kosher (Talmud, Sukkah 24b).
A Sukkah can be built on the ground or on an open porch or balcony. 
Indeed, many observant Jews who design their home’s porch or deck will do so in a fashion that aligns with their Sukkah building needs. Portable Sukkahs made of a collapsible metal frame and cloth walls have recently become available for those who have little space, or for those who are traveling (in order to have a place to eat one’s meals).
The roof covering, known as S’chach in Hebrew, placed loosely atop, must leave open space for the stars to be viewed and daylight and rain to enter.
The roof of a Sukkah should consist of something that grew from the earth, but is currently disconnected from it. Palm leaves, bamboo sticks, pine branches, wood and the like can all be used for the roof, unless they were processed previously for a different use.
Sukkahs in Israel:
Sukkot celebrations in Tel Aviv:
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THE FOUR SPECIES
Besides building a Sukkah, “the four species” of Sukkot are of big importance.
The four species are:
an Etrog (a citrus fruit similar to a lemon),
a Palm Branch (in Hebrew, Lulav),
two Willow Branches (Aravot) and
three Myrtle Branches (Hadassim).
The six branches are bound together and referred to collectively as the “Lulav”, because the palm branch is by far the largest part. The Etrog is held separately.
On each day of the festival and with these four species in hand, one recites a blessing and waves the species in all six directions (east, south, west, north, up and down), symbolizing the fact that God is everywhere.
The four species are also held and waved during the Hallel prayer in religious services.
There are two primary explanations of the symbolic significance of these plants: that they represent different parts of the body, or that they represent different kinds of Jews.
According to the first interpretation, the long straight palm branch represents the spine. The myrtle leaf, which is a small oval, represents the eye. The willow leaf, a long oval, represents the mouth, and the etrog fruit represents the heart. All of these parts have the potential to be used for sin, but should join together in the performance of mitzvot (commandments).
According to the second interpretation, the etrog, which has both a pleasing taste and a pleasing scent, represents Jews who have achieved both knowledge of Torah and performance of mitzvot. The palm branch, which produces tasty fruit, but has no scent, represents Jews who have knowledge of Torah but are lacking in mitzvot. The myrtle leaf, which has a strong scent but no taste, represents Jews who perform mitzvot but have little knowledge of Torah. The willow, which has neither taste nor scent, represents Jews who have no knowledge of Torah and do not perform the mitzvot.
Bringing together all four of these species on Sukkot, reminds people that everyone of these four kinds of Jews is important and that all Jews should be united.
The Quest for the Perfect Etrog
Among religious circles a unique aspect of Sukkot involves the quest for the perfect Etrog. Some people will spend upwards of $100 for the perfect Etrog and on the weekend before Sukkot outdoor markets selling Etrogim (plural of etrog) and Lulavim (plural of lulav) will spring up at many places. Buyers are looking for unblemished skin and Etrog proportions that are just right.
Infolive.tv visited the Sukkot Market of Four Species in Jerusalem:
A 2005 movie titled “Ushpizin” shows this quest for the perfect Etrog. The movie is about a young Orthodox couple in Israel that is too poor to build a Sukkah of their own, until a miraculous donation saves their holiday.
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HOSPITALITY
Another important part of the Sukkot observation is hospitality.
It is very important to share meals with others.
In fact this sharing is so important that the holiday is also known as Chag Ha’asif (Festival of the Ingathering).
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HOLIDAY of SHEMINI ATZERET
The holiday of Shemini Atzeret (lit. “the Eighth [day] of Assembly”) is a separate festival that follows immediately after Sukkot, on the eighth day (eighth and ninth days outside the land of Israel).
Shemini Atzeret is mistakenly referred to as the eighth day of the Festival of Sukkot, which occupies the seven preceding days. In fact, Shemini Atzeret is a holiday unto itself.
The family returns indoors to eat and sleep in their house, special synagogue services are held, and holiday meals are served. However, outside of Israel many still have the custom to eat in the Sukkah on Shemini Atzeret, but not on Simchat Torah.
HOLIDAY of SIMCHAT TORAH
The ninth day is a separate holiday as well and known as Simchat Torah (lit., “Rejoicing with/of the Torah,”). It is a celebration marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. Throughout the year, a part of the Torah has been read every week. On Simchat Torah the final passages from Deuteronomy are read. The reading of the Torah is concluded and is started again.
Simchat Torah is a component of the Biblical Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret (“Eighth Day of Assembly”), which follows immediately after the festival of Sukkot in the month of Tishrei.
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“Shlomit is building a Sukkah” – One of the most famous Sukkot songs.
Words an music by Naomi Shemer.
Here sung by Hanan Goldblatt, Aliza Rosen and Gaby Aldor:
Naomi Shemer (July 13, 1930 – June 26, 2004) was a leading Israeli songwriter hailed as the “first lady of Israeli song and poetry.”
Naomi Shemer did her own songwriting and composing, set famous poems to music, such as those of the Israeli poet, Rachel, and adapted well-known songs into Hebrew, such as the Beatles songs “Hey Jude” and “Let it Be” (“Lu Yehi”). In 1963, she composed “Hurshat Ha’Eucalyptus” (The Eucalyptus Grove), a song that reminds of Kvutzat Kinneret, where she was born.
In 1983, Shemer received the Israel Prize for Hebrew song (words and melody).
“A Sukkah! A Sukkah!” – Sukkot song for children by Rachel Buchman:
“Nigun Hisvaadus” – sung by Avraham Fried
Orchestrated & Conducted By Yisroel Lamm
Manhattan Center, New York City, March 10, 2002:
“Nigun Hisvaadus” is a beautiful tune often sung by Chassidic gatherings as well as around the Shabbat and holiday table. The tune was sung by the first generation of Chabad Chassidim (Hasidic Judaism – a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith) some 200 years ago.
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I wish all Jewish people around the world
a joyous and HAPPY SUKKOT!
Chag Sameach!
Best wishes,
Angela Nilsson
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Sources:
http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday5.htm
http://www.holidays.net/sukkot/story.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukkah
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shemini_Atzeret
http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/whatissukkot.htm
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