First day of Sukkot
The lulav (part of a date palm tree) and etrog (lemon-like fruit) are two important symbols on the holiday of Sukkot . ©iStockphoto.com/Tova Teitelbaum
What do people do?
Before the start of Sukkot, Jewish families build a sukkah, usually in a garden or on a balcony. This is a temporary structure directly under the sky and roofed with sechach (s'chach), which is raw, unfinished plant material. Jewish people spend some or all of Sukkot in the sukkah and may even sleep in it, although this is less likely in cooler climates. Some families spend a lot of time constructing a sukkah each year, while others have a foldable one, which is stored carefully for the rest of the year. Depending on the religious and cultural traditions of a particular family, people may spend all of Sukkot in the sukkah and even sleep in it, or just eat main meals in it.
During Sukkot, except on Shabbat (the Sabbath, Saturday), the Four Species (four plants with symbolic meanings) are waved in a number of proscribed directions after reciting a blessing. People may do this at a synagogue, in the sukkah or at home. The seventh and last day of Sukkot is known as Hoshana Rabbah and is marked by a special service at the synagogue. During the service, the rolls of the Torah are taken out of their ark and worshipers make seven circuits while holding the Four Species and reciting Hoshanot (Psalm 118:25).
Public life
Sukkot is a public holiday in Israel, but not in other countries, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. In these countries, public life is not affected, but Jewish owned stores, businesses, schools and other organizations may be closed or offer a reduced level of service.
Background
In the time of the Temple, Jewish people made a pilgrimage (Hakhel) to the Temple in Jerusalem at Sukkot once every seven years. There they would listen to readings from the Torah by the king of Israel. This custom stopped after the destruction of the Temple in the year 70 CE, but has been revived in recent times and in some years, such as 1945, 1994 and 2001, renowned rabbis have read these sections of the Torah aloud at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
Symbols
An important symbol of Sukkot is the sukkah. This is a temporary structure with a roof made of sechach or s'chach, which is raw, unfinished plant material, such as palm branches, bamboo poles, reeds or even corn stalks. Most or all of its roof should be directly under the sky and the inside may be decorated with extracts from the Torah, real or imitation fruit and shiny decorations. Portable sukkahs are available for travelers.
The Four Species are also important symbols of Sukkot and represent the blessings of nature. These are lulav (a green, closed frond of a date palm tree), hadass (twigs and leaves from a myrtle tree), aravah (twigs and leaves from a willow tree) and etrog (a lemon-like fruit of the citron tree).
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