Feast of Tabernacles

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Feast of Tabernacles

SUKKOT- Festival of Tabernacles, observed during the week commencing 15 Tishri. Outside Israel, in the Diaspora, the first two days are celebrated as full holidays, while the last day, SHEMINI ATSERET (the "Eighth Day of Solemn Assembly"), is also kept as a holiday, followed by SIMHAT TORAH ("the Rejoicing of the Law"). This amounts to a continuous observance of nine days. In Israel, only the first and eighth days are full holidays, Shemini Atseret and Simhat Torah being combined. The middle five days (six in Israel) are HOL HA-MO'ED, intermediate days of the festival when work is permissible but a festival framework is maintained (for example, in the liturgy). Sukkot is one of the three PILGRIM FESTIVALS when, in ancient times, the Jews made pilgrimages to the Temple in Jerusalem. Like Passover and Shavu'ot, Sukkot has both historical and agricultural significance. Its historical meaning is indicated in the Bible, which links it with Israel's 40-year journey through the wilderness en route to the Promised Land.

During that time, they lived only in "tabernacles" or booths, in commemoration of which the Bible instructs the Jew to "live in booths for seven days" (Lev. 23:42-43). However, as an agricultural event, occurring in the fall harvest season, Sukkot was also observed as a festival of thanksgiving for the bounties of nature granted during the past year (Ex. 23:16; Deut. 16: 13). The various names given to this festival provide a comprehensive explanation of its purpose: (1) Hag ha-Asif, "the Festival of the Ingathering [of crops]" (Ex. 23:16,34: 22), pointing to its agricultural importance; (2) Hag ha-Sukkot, "the Festival of Tabernacles" (Lev. 23:34; Deut. 13,16), commemorating Israel's experience in the wilderness under God's protection; (3) Hag, "the Festival" (Lev. 23: 39-41; Num. 29:12), a name popular with the rabbis, as if to suggest that Sukkot was the holiday par excellence; and (4) Zeman Simhatenu, "the Season of our Rejoicing" (cf. Deut. 15:14-15), a liturgical designation reflecting the Bible's commandment to "be altogether joyful." In older books of the Bible, Sukkot is the only holiday given considerable attention, indicating that it was the main festival of the time.

Its centrality disappeared, however, when Jews mostly lost contact with agriculture after the destruction of the Second Temple. The main observance of the festival involves "dwelling" in the SUKKAH. Today this is a very temporary structure built especially for the festival in one's yard or garden, or on a balcony, patio, etc. It is not roofed over but covered with detached foliage or other natural growth, through which the stars can be seen at night. The ETHIOPIAN JEWS (Beta Israel), who also observe Sukkot, never made booths, probably because they live in huts all year round. While the sukkah was originally a reminder of Israel's journey in the wilderness, the rabbis suggested that its insubstantial nature symbolizes man's reliance on Divine protection. All meals during the festival are eaten in the sukkah, unless bad weather makes it impossible to do so. Central to the festival are the FOUR SPECIES, plants (one being a fruit) which are held together and waved to "rejoice before the Lord" (Lev. 23:40).

These Four Species (arba'ah minim) are the lulav or palm branch, the etrog or citron, the hadassim -- three myrtle twigs, and the aravot -- two willow branches. "Taking the lulav" applies to all four species, which are arranged in a bouquet. On the first seven days of the festival, apart from the Sabbath, the lulav is taken and during the HALLEL, it is waved in all four compass directions, as well as upward and downward, to acknowledge God's omnipotence and sovereignty over the entire universe. Appropriate to the joyous character of Sukkot, the "full," unabridged Hallel (Ps. 113- 118) is recited each morning. The book of ECCLESIASTES is prescribed reading for Sukkot. It may be that the pessimistic outlook of Ecclesiastes was thought suitable for the fall, when people began to anticipate the winter rains and colder months ahead.