Sukkot: Saturday,  October 3, 2009 |
Sukkot
Sukkot begins on the fifteenth of Tishrei, only five days after Yom Kippur. The name of the holiday is the plural form of the Hebrew word sukkah, which means, “hut” or “booth.” A sukkah is a temporary structure that the Israelites lived in during their forty years in the desert (Leviticus 23:42–43). Many Jews today build and use sukkahs to help them remember their ancestors’ journey through the wilderness. In ancient times, Sukkot was also a fall harvest festival. While many Jews today no longer harvest their own crops, Sukkot still serves as a reminder of our dependence on God for the food that we eat for nourishment and pleasure.
Sukkot is a very joyous holiday that is rich with symbols. In addition to recalling life in the desert, the sukkah helps us appreciate the beauties of nature that God created. Sukkahs may be built at home, at a synagogue, community center or college campus. The top is covered with palm branches and leaves, leaving enough open space so we may see the sun and stars. Inside, the walls and ceiling can be decorated with fruit, vegetables or original art work.
Families and friends gather in the sukkah to enjoy festive meals, and some people even sleep in the sukkah. It is customary to invite guests into the sukkah, even honorary guests from Jewish history such as Abraham and Sarah, Moses or King David. These guests are called “ushpizin.”
We must remember, however, that while the sukkah is a place of celebration, it is only a temporary dwelling place, not meant for us to live in permanently. After the holiday is over, we must return to the world outside the sukkah and continue to be involved in the responsibilities of everyday life.
The other important symbol of Sukkot is the “lulav,” which is actually a combination of four species of plants: citron, palm, myrtle and willow. (Leviticus 23:40). The citron alone is called an “etrog.” This fruit looks like a large lemon and has a beautiful fragrance. The lulav and etrog are used during synagogue services throughout Sukkot, along with appropriate blessings and ceremonies. In one ceremony, the lulav is waved in all directions, showing that God’s presence is everywhere.
Communities in Israel and some outside of Israel celebrate Sukkot for seven days. For these communities, the first day is a holy day. In many communities outside of Israel, Sukkot is celebrated for eight days, with the first two as holy days. In observance of these holy days, many Jews go to synagogue instead of their regular activities such as work and school.
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| Shemini Atzeret: Monday, October 20, to Tuesday, October 21, 2008 |
Shemini Atzeret
Shemini Atzeret is mentioned in the Bible in Numbers 29:35. It is sometimes thought of as the end of Sukkot, although it is really a separate holiday in itself. In communities that celebrate seven days of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret is combined with Simchat Torah. On Shemini Atzeret, the sukkah is used but without reciting the blessing for dwelling in it. The significance of Shemini Atzeret is that in the synagogue, traditional Jews begin to recite the prayers for rain in Israel. Even outside of Israel, communities recite these prayers to show their connection to the land.
As on Yom Kippur, the Yizkor memorial service is included on Shemini Atzeret.
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