Sukkot

Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Festival of Shelters, is a vibrant Jewish holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. This holiday has deep historical roots, commemorating the 40 years the Israelites spent wandering in the desert. It is also an agricultural festival marking the harvest season.

One of the most distinctive aspects of Sukkot is the tradition of dwelling in temporary shelters called sukkahs. These structures symbolize the dwellings the Israelites lived in during their desert journey. The holiday lasts seven days in Israel and eight days in the diaspora. The first day is a full-fledged festival, followed by intermediate days known as Chol HaMoed, during which some work is permitted. Sukkot concludes with Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.

During Sukkot, people engage in various customs such as dwelling and eating in the sukkah, waving the Four Species (a combination of a palm branch, myrtle, willow, and citron), and reciting special prayers. Other practices include the Hoshanot ceremony, inviting spiritual guests into the sukkah (known as Ushpizin), and the lively water-drawing celebration called Simchat Beit HaShoeivah.

The holiday is richly detailed in Jewish texts such as the Hebrew Bible, the Mishnah, and the Talmud. Observing Sukkot involves reading from the Torah daily, reciting special prayers, and performing rituals with the Four Species. The festivities culminate with Hoshana Rabbah and continue through Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.

For Jews outside Israel, the first and last two days of Sukkot are celebrated as full festivals, while the intermediate days are more relaxed, often treated as a vacation period filled with festive meals and community events. Interestingly, some Christian denominations that observe Old Testament holidays also celebrate Sukkot, inspired by Jesus' observance of the festival as mentioned in the Gospel of John.