Feast of Booths
- Sukkot 2023 begins at sunset on **September 29** and ends at nightfall on **October 6** . The first two days are full-fledged, no-work-allowed holiday days. The subsequent days are Chol Hamoed, when work is allowed, albeit with restrictions. The final day of Sukkot is known as Hoshanah Rabbah.
- Sukkot is followed by the holiday of Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah, which begins at sundown on **October 6** and ends at nightfall on **October 8** (only October 7 in Israel) .
- One of the main observances of Sukkot is dwelling in a foliage-covered booth (known as a sukkah) and eating all meals there. The sukkah must have at least three walls and a roof of unprocessed natural vegetation, and must be located under the open sky.
- Another Sukkot observance is taking together the Four Kinds: an etrog (citron), a lulav (palm frond), three hadassim (myrtle twigs) and two aravot (willow twigs). These four species represent the unity of all types of Jews and their connection to G-d.
What is the meaning of Sukkot?
- Sukkot is a weeklong Jewish holiday that comes five days after Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
- Sukkot celebrates the gathering of the harvest and commemorates the miraculous protection G‑d provided for the children of Israel when they left Egypt.
- Sukkot is one of the three pilgrimage festivals, when those Israelites who could were commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.
- Sukkot is also known as Chag HaAsif (the Festival of Ingathering or Harvest Festival) and Chag HaSukkot (the Festival of Booths or Tabernacles).
- Sukkot is characterized by the erection of huts made of branches, called sukkot (plural of sukkah), which symbolize the temporary dwellings that the Israelites lived in during their 40-year journey in the desert.
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Sukkot is also marked by the taking of the Four Kinds, four special
species of vegetation: lulav (palm frond), etrog (citron), hadass
(myrtle) and aravah (willow branch). These are waved in six
directions to represent G‑d's omnipresence.
- Sukkot is a time to express gratitude for G‑d's bounty and care, as well as to rejoice in His presence and His Torah.
- The first two days of Sukkot (one day in Israel) are yom tov, when work is forbidden and festive meals are eaten in the sukkah. The intermediate days are called Chol Hamoed, when some work is permitted. The last day of Sukkot is called Hoshanah Rabbah, when special prayers for rain are recited.
- The holiday is followed by another yom tov called Shemini Atzeret (one day in Israel, two days in the diaspora), which is also celebrated as Simchat Torah, the rejoicing of the Torah, when the annual cycle of reading the Torah is completed and begun anew.
Four Kinds
- The **Four Kinds** are a special mitzvah of Sukkot that involves taking a citron (**etrog**), a palm branch (**lulav**), three myrtle twigs (**hadassim**) and two willow branches (**aravot**) and waving them in all six directions every day of Sukkot (except Shabbat) .
- The Four Kinds symbolize the unity of the Jewish people, who are composed of four types of Jews with different levels of Torah knowledge and observance. The etrog represents the Jew who has both Torah learning and good deeds, the lulav represents the Jew who has Torah learning but lacks good deeds, the hadassim represent the Jew who has good deeds but lacks Torah learning, and the aravot represent the Jew who lacks both Torah and good deeds .
- The Four Kinds must meet certain conditions to be kosher for use. The etrog must be a complete and beautiful fruit, the lulav must have its leaves bound to its spine, and the hadassim must have three leaves growing from the same place on the stem. The aravot, however, do not have to grow near a brook, as long as they are the type of willow that usually grows by a brook .
- The best place to perform this mitzvah is in the sukkah, the outdoor booth that is also a central observance of Sukkot. The sukkah reminds us of the temporary dwellings that the Israelites lived in during their 40 years in the desert after leaving Egypt. It also represents G-d's protection and providence over His people .
- A sukkah is a simple hut used during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, which in 2023 begins at sunset on September 29 and ends at nightfall on October 6.
- A sukkah must have at least two full walls and a partial third wall, but preferably four full walls. The walls can be made of any sturdy material that does not flap in the wind, such as wood, metal or fabric. You can also use existing walls of your home or patio as part of the sukkah.
- A sukkah must have a roof made of unprocessed natural vegetation, known as sechach, such as bamboo, pine boughs or palm branches. The sechach must be thick enough to provide more shade than sun, but thin enough to allow some rain and stars to come through. The sechach must not be supported by anything that is not kosher for the roof, such as metal beams or synthetic materials.
- A sukkah must be built outdoors, under the open sky, with nothing blocking the roof from above, such as trees, roofs or canopies. You can build a sukkah on your porch, backyard, lawn, balcony or rooftop, as long as it meets these requirements.
- A sukkah should be large enough to accommodate at least one person comfortably, but not taller than 30 feet (about 10 meters). The minimum height is 32 inches and the minimum area is 22.4 inches by 22.4 inches.
Sukkot celebration traditions
Some traditions of Sukkot celebration are:
- **Building a sukkah**, a temporary hut made of branches, that symbolizes the shelters that the Israelites used during their 40 years of wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. The sukkah should have at least three walls and a roof that allows some light and rain to come through. The sukkah is decorated with fruits, vegetables, flowers and other items.
- **Eating in the sukkah**, especially the festive meals on the first two nights of the holiday, when a blessing is recited over the sukkah. Some people also sleep in the sukkah, depending on their custom and the weather. The goal is to spend as much time as possible in the sukkah, which represents G-d's protection and providence.
- **Rejoicing and thanking G-d** for the harvest, the Torah and all His blessings. Sukkot is also known as Zeman Simchatenu, the Season of our Rejoicing. It is a time to express gratitude for G-d's bounty and care, and to celebrate with family, friends and guests. Some customs include singing, dancing, reading Psalms and inviting guests (ushpizin) from the seven biblical leaders: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David.
- **Observing Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah**, two holidays that immediately follow Sukkot. Shemini Atzeret means "the eighth day of assembly" and it is a separate holiday from Sukkot, but with similar prayers and rituals. It is also a time to pray for rain for the coming year. Simchat Torah means "rejoicing of the Torah" and it marks the completion and renewal of the annual cycle of reading the Torah. It is celebrated by taking out all the Torah scrolls from the ark, dancing with them around the synagogue, and reading the last and first portions of the Torah.
How to decorate a sukkah
Here are some tips on how to decorate a sukkah:
- Use weather-proof fabric, paper, or plastic to hang banners, posters, or artwork on the walls of the sukkah. You can use safety pins, string, or bungees to attach them to the wall material or the frame of the sukkah.
- Use natural materials like fruits, vegetables, flowers, or plants to create a harvest-themed sukkah. You can hang them from the ceiling, place them on the table, or use them as centerpieces. You can also use food items that are part of the traditional Sukkot symbols, like the four species or the seven species.
- Use string lights, lanterns, or candles to add some light and warmth to your sukkah. You can wrap them around the frame, hang them from the ceiling, or place them on the table. Make sure they are battery-operated or have a safe source of power.
- Use your creativity and personal style to make your sukkah unique and inviting. You can choose a theme or color scheme for your sukkah, or mix and match different elements. You can also involve your family and friends in the decorating process and have fun together.
Traditional foods eaten during Sukkot
Some traditional foods eaten during Sukkot are:
- Gefilte fish: a dish of ground whitefish, vegetables, herbs, eggs, and seasonings formed into loaves or balls and boiled in broth
- Chicken matzo ball soup: a soup made with chicken, vegetables, and dumplings made from matzo meal, eggs, and oil
- Meat stuffed peppers: bell peppers filled with ground meat, rice, herbs, and spices and baked in tomato sauce
- Roast chicken with vegetables: a whole chicken or chicken parts roasted with seasonal vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, squash, and onions
- Sweet potato kugel: a casserole made with grated sweet and regular potatoes, apples, carrots, eggs, oil, and spices
- Fruit compote: a dessert of dried fruits such as apricots, plums, and raisins simmered in water with sugar, lemon rind, and spices
- Classic kosher apple cake: a moist cake made with apples, flour, sugar, oil, eggs, cinnamon, and baking soda
- Kreplach: small dough pockets filled with meat or cheese and boiled in soup or fried
- Challah: a braided bread made with flour, yeast, eggs, sugar, oil, and salt
- Compote: a dessert of fresh or dried fruits cooked in water with sugar and spices
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7 No-Waste Decorations to Make For Your Sukkah | PJ Library
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