Sukkot ( Hebrew- booths, huts) is the autumn festival which celebrates the gathering in of the crops and the fruit harvest. It is also known as the Festival of the Tabernacles. Sukkot occurs on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishri, five days after Yom Kippur. This corresponds to September or October in the Gregorian calendar. (See The Jewish Year). The festival is observed for seven days by Progressive Jews and in Israel and for eight days by Orthodox Jews living outside Israel.
Background
Sukkot is one of the three traditional pilgrimage festivals (the other two being Passover and Shavuot). These pilgrimages were made annually to the Temple in Jerusalem.
There are three elements to the celebration which explain its name ‘booths or huts’.
Firstly, Historical – it reminds us of the temporary shelters built by the Hebrews during their forty years of wandering in the desert. They dreamed of a time where they could settle in the Holy Land, live in freedom and build permanent homes.
Secondly, Agricultural – the harvest had to be gathered quickly in order for the crops not to spoil therefore the farmers would camp out in temporary shelters overnight at the edge of the fields. They could then rise at first light and start their work on site immediately.
Thirdly, Spiritual – once the harvest had been collected, the people would make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem to give thanks to God. There were so many pilgrims that they would build a ‘Sukkah’ (singular of Sukkot) in courtyards and on rooftops to act as temporary accommodation.
What Happens
Synagogues will construct a Sukkah and some families will also build one in their garden. Those that don’t will often decorate their homes with fruit and branches or make tabletop Sukkot. (See Practical Ideas and Activities for Teaching Judaism).
Some families eat their meals in their Sukkah and the weekly Kiddish (welcoming of Shabbat) will take place inside. In Israel families may even camp out in them for the week. (It’s too cold in autumn in the UK!) Interestingly Jews cannot use the Sukkah if it rains because we cannot rejoice whilst we are suffering!
There are specific rules on how to build a Sukkah. It has to be between three and thirty foot high (approximately 1-9 metres) and have three walls with the forth open. The walls can be made of any material such as wood or canvas but the roof must be of a temporary nature, made of greenery such as leaves, branches, reeds or stalks. The roof provides shelter but it must be partially open to allow those in it to see the stars and therefore up to God in Heaven. Although Sukkot are temporary, we make them look as beautiful as possible. They are decorated with hanging fruit and vegetables – some use the seven crops (Bikkurim) that were found when the Hebrews reached Israel ie: wheat, barley, figs, dates, grapes, olives and pomegranates. We sometimes also hang paper chains, posters of Sukkot blessings and pictures of our Ushpizin – our seven most famous ancestors – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron and David.
We also think of the needy so at the end of Sukkot any fruit and vegetables that are still fresh will be given away as Tzedakah (charity) to soup kitchens etc along with other donations of food and money.
The Four Species
The Torah tells us that once we have gathered in the harvest, we should celebrate, using branches and fruits of beautiful trees.
We use a Lulav ( Hebrew – palm branch) and an Etrog (Hebrew – citron) to represent the harvest crops.
The Lulav is a three sectioned woven holder containing three species of tree- the central ‘spine’ is a branch of palm tree.
There are three twigs of myrtle to the right and two branches from the willow to the left.
The forth species is the Etrog- a fragrant member of the citrus family which resembles a large, bumpy lemon.
In the Book Of Leviticus it commands that ‘On the first day (of Sukkot) you shall take the fruit of beautiful trees (Etrog), palm branches, myrtle boughs and willow (Lulav) and rejoice before the Lord’.
On each morning of Sukkot except Shabbat, the Lulav and Etrog are held together, blessed and shaken in all directions to symbolise that God is everywhere.
The shaking of the Lulav sounds like rain – a wish for a good harvest in the coming year.
There is another symbolic interpretation of the Lulav and Etrog. Each of the four species represents a different part of the body joining together to worship God.
The palm is our backbone, the myrtle leaves are shaped like our eyes, the willow, like our lips and the Etrog represents our heart.
Therefore the good Jew must have an unbending loyalty to God, a good eye to look on others with kindness and generosity, a good mouth that speaks well of others and engages in prayer and study and above all, a good heart.
We serve God with all our strength, our observances, our words and our love.
During Sukkot it is usual to see people in Jewish areas parading through the streets with their Lulavs and Etrogs. Below is the Sukkot parade at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
Summary
The ethos behind Sukkot is two fold. It is a thanksgiving to God – a celebration that we have plenty of food and strong, permanent homes that give us shelter, stability and comfort.
However not everyone has enough food and we must help in every way we can. The temporary Sukkot are a reminder of how transient material things are and that not all families live in peace, comfort and safety.
We celebrate but we must also be mindful of others less fortunate.