Last day of Sukkot in United States

Many Jewish people in the United States mark Hoshana Rabbah (or Hoshana Raba) as the last day of Sukkot (Succot, Succoth, Sukkoth) in their calendars. This day is the end of the Sukkot period, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles. The Sukkot festival is observed during the week starting on 15th day of Tishri (or Tishrei), which is the first month of the year in the Jewish calendar.

One Sukkot tradition is to fulfill the religious duty (mitzvah) of dwelling in the sukkah.

©iStockphoto.com/Tova Teitelbaum

What do people do?

Hoshana Rabbah is marked by a special service at the synagogue. During the service, the rolls of the Torah are taken out of their ark and worshippers make seven circuits while holding the four species and reciting Hoshanot (Psalm 118:25). The four species (four plants with symbolic meanings) are waved in proscribed directions after a blessing is recited during Sukkot, except on Shabbat (the Sabbath). People may do this at a synagogue, in the sukkah or at home. The beating of the aravah, a willow branch, is also performed.

Some sources say that it is traditional to wear a kittle (shroud worn on Yom Kippur) on the last day of Sukkot. It is also customary to eat a festive meal in the sukkah in the afternoon to fulfill the religious duty (mitzvah) of dwelling in the sukkah one last time for the year. The heavenly decrees made on Rosh Hashanah (and sealed on Yom Kippur) are sent out on Hoshana Rabbah, according to Jewish belief. The Kabbalah’s main book also says that nations around the world are judged on this day.

Public life

The last day of Sukkot is not a nationwide public holiday in the United States. However, many Jewish businesses, schools and organizations may be closed or offer a reduced level of service.

Background

The Sukkot period is a time to remember the Jewish people’s wandering in the desert for 40 years following their exodus from Egypt, according to Jewish teachings. It is also a time to celebrate the grape harvest. Some sources claim that Sukkot lasts for about seven days while others state that it is an eight-day festival.

The seventh day of Sukkot is known as Hoshana Rabbah while the eighth day is known as Shmini Atzeret and the day after is called Simchat Torah. Hoshana Rabbah is known as the day of the final sealing of judgment, which began on Rosh Hashanah.

Symbols

An important Sukkot symbol 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.

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).

About Last day of Sukkot in other countries

Last day of Sukkot Observances

Related holidays

• First day of Sukkot ―Thursday, September 19, 2013
• Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah ―Thursday, September 26, 2013
• Rosh Hashana ―Thursday, September 5, 2013

Other holidays in September 2013 in United States

• Labor Day ―Monday, September 2, 2013
• Rosh Hashana ―Thursday, September 5, 2013
• Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day ―Saturday, September 7, 2013
• International Literacy Day ―Sunday, September 8, 2013
• National Grandparents Day ―Sunday, September 8, 2013
• World Suicide Prevention Day ―Tuesday, September 10, 2013
• Patriot Day ―Wednesday, September 11, 2013
• International Day for South-South Cooperation ―Thursday, September 12, 2013
• Friday the 13th ―Friday, September 13, 2013
• International Programmers' Day ―Friday, September 13, 2013
• Yom Kippur ―Saturday, September 14, 2013
• International Day of Democracy ―Sunday, September 15, 2013
• International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer ―Monday, September 16, 2013
• Constitution Day and Citizenship Day ―Tuesday, September 17, 2013
• First day of Sukkot ―Thursday, September 19, 2013
• International Talk Like a Pirate Day ―Thursday, September 19, 2013
• National POW/MIA Recognition Day ―Friday, September 20, 2013
• International Day of Peace ―Saturday, September 21, 2013
• Emancipation Day ―Sunday, September 22, 2013
• September equinox ―Sunday, September 22, 2013
• Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah ―Thursday, September 26, 2013
• World Maritime Day ―Thursday, September 26, 2013
• World Tourism Day ―Friday, September 27, 2013
• World Rabies Day ―Saturday, September 28, 2013
• World Heart Day ―Sunday, September 29, 2013
• Gold Star Mother's Day ―Sunday, September 29, 2013