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B'nai Emet -> Holidays -> Sukkot
Soon after the solemn days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are behind us, on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei (corresponding this year to Wednesday, September 26), the joyous festival of Sukkot begins. Sukkot is a celebration of the harvest and of nature itself. It is one of the three pilgrimage festivals during the Jewish year, the other two being Pesach and Shavuot. How can I celebrate Sukkot at B’nai Emet?Throughout Sukkot (sundown Monday, October 13 through Tuesday, October 21) you will have many opportunities to celebrate Sukkot, dwell in a Sukkah, and handle, shake, and bless the lulav and etrog.
About the SukkahWhat is the significance of the Sukkah?During this holiday, it is customary to build and decorate Sukkot, which are special huts with thatched roofs to remind us of the huts in which our ancestors lived in the desert as they wandered for forty years on their way to freedom in the land of Israel. The Sukkah also reminds us of the agricultural nature of the holiday, since temporary booths are used by agricultural workers. The Sukkah further reminds us of the protective clouds of glory that surrounded the Israelites as they wandered in the desert. How is a Sukkah constructed, decorated, and used?
What is the connection between the Sukkah and the mitzvah of extending hospitality?The holiday of Sukkot reminds us of the image of our ancestor Abraham, who is said to have sat in his tent, with the flaps folded up on all four sides, in order to welcome weary travelers from every direction. Extending hospitality is an essential element of this holiday. By inviting people into a Sukkah, we permit others to observe the mitzvah of “layshev baSukkah” or dwelling in a Sukkah. What is the significance of the lulav and etrog?
One holds the lulav and etrog in hand and recites a blessing, waving the four species in all six directions (east, south, west, north, up, and down) to symbolize the fact that God is everywhere. The four species are also held during the Hallel prayer and processions around the bimah during the holiday. These processions are known as Hoshanahs, because during the procession, we recite a prayer with the refrain, “Hosha na!” (Please save us). On the seventh day of Sukkot, seven circuits are made. For this reason, the seventh day of Sukkot, this year occurring on Monday, October 20, is known as Hoshanah Rabbah (the great Hoshanah). Click here for blessings over the lulav and etrog, as well as other Sukkah blessings. Sukkot ActivitiesWish your friends a joyful Sukkot.Click here to brighten someone’s day with an electronic Sukkot greeting Where can I find Sukkot fun and games for kids online?
Looking for something different to cook on Sukkot?Click here for a family-fun recipe for Sukkot Apple Crisp Harvest Dessert. Click here for creative ideas for theme Sukkot dinners and recipes from various nations.
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A Sukkah is a temporary structure that must have at least
three walls and a roof made of material that grew from the ground and was
detached from the ground. The Sukkah must stand under the open sky. The roof
material must be placed sparsely enough so that the stars can be seen but not so
sparsely that there is more light than shade inside. The Sukkah should be
strong enough to withstand wind and rain and wide enough to accommodate a table
and chairs so one can eat meals and fulfill the mitzvah of dwelling in a
Sukkah.
All meals during Sukkot should be eaten in the Sukkah unless it is raining.
Many people decorate their Sukkot. Agricultural items such as dried squash and
corn are often used as decorations. Some people string cranberries and popcorn,
and use other seasonal fruits and vegetables. Pictures of Israel, Rosh Hashanah
greeting cards, or children’s artwork are all appropriate decorations.
The
lulav, a palm branch, three myrtle twigs and two willow
branches, and the etrog, a large citron resembling a lemon, represent the four
species. They are symbols of the harvest season and of God’s abundant
blessings. With them, we fulfill the command to “take the fruit of the pleasant
trees, palm branches, thick leafy boughs, and willows of the brook, and you
shall rejoice” (Vayikra/Leviticus 23:40).