Sukkot: History and Jewish Festival of Tabernacles

BY NICOLE LAU

Sukkot (סֻכּוֹת, "Tabernacles" or "Booths"), celebrated from the 15th to the 21st of Tishrei (typically late September to October), is one of Judaism's most joyful festivals. It commemorates the Israelites' 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, living in temporary shelters under God's protection. It's also a harvest festival, celebrating agricultural abundance and giving thanks for blessings. The central practice is dwelling in a sukkah—a temporary hut—and waving the Four Species, creating a week of gratitude, joy, and trust in divine providence.

Biblical Origins

Sukkot is commanded in the Torah with specific instructions.

Leviticus 23:33-43: "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month... you shall live in booths for seven days... so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt."

Deuteronomy 16:13-15: "Celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles for seven days... Be joyful at your festival... for the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete."

The Three Pilgrimage Festivals: Sukkot is one of the three festivals (with Passover and Shavuot) when ancient Israelites made pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

The Historical Meaning

Sukkot commemorates the Israelites' wilderness journey after the Exodus.

The Wilderness Years: For 40 years, the Israelites lived in temporary shelters, completely dependent on God for food (manna), water, and protection.

The Clouds of Glory: Rabbinic tradition teaches that God surrounded the Israelites with protective clouds (Clouds of Glory) during their wandering. The sukkah represents these divine clouds.

The Lesson: Living in fragile, temporary structures teaches trust in God's protection rather than our own security measures.

The Agricultural Meaning

Sukkot is also the autumn harvest festival.

The Harvest Completion: By Sukkot, all crops are gathered—grain, grapes, olives, fruits. It's the final harvest celebration of the year.

Thanksgiving: The festival expresses gratitude for agricultural abundance and God's provision.

The Paradox: Just when we've gathered our harvest into secure storage, we leave our permanent homes to dwell in fragile huts, teaching that true security comes from God, not our possessions.

The Sukkah: The Temporary Dwelling

The sukkah is Sukkot's central symbol and practice.

Requirements

Walls: At least two and a half walls (can be any material)

Roof (S'chach): Must be made from natural materials (branches, bamboo, palm fronds) that grew from the ground. Must provide more shade than sun but allow stars to be visible through gaps.

Temporary: Must be a temporary structure, not permanent

Size: Large enough to sit in comfortably; some build large enough for meals and sleeping

Decorations

Sukkahs are beautifully decorated with:

• Hanging fruits (real or artificial)
• Paper chains and decorations
• Children's artwork
• Lights and lanterns
• Harvest symbols

The Practice

Dwelling: Eat all meals in the sukkah; some sleep there (weather permitting)

Hospitality: Invite guests to share meals in the sukkah

Ushpizin: Mystical tradition of inviting seven biblical guests (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph, David) to the sukkah each night

The Four Species (Arba Minim)

Each day of Sukkot, four plants are waved together in a ritual.

Lulav (לולב): Palm branch (center)

Etrog (אתרוג): Citron fruit (held separately)

Hadassim (הדסים): Three myrtle branches (right side)

Aravot (ערבות): Two willow branches (left side)

The Symbolism

Unity: Four species represent different types of Jews, all necessary for the community

Body Parts: Spine (lulav), heart (etrog), eyes (myrtle), lips (willow)

Taste and Smell: Etrog has both; palm has neither; myrtle has smell; willow has neither—representing different combinations of Torah knowledge and good deeds

The Ritual

Hold the lulav (with myrtle and willow bound to it) in the right hand, etrog in the left. Recite blessing, then wave in six directions (east, south, west, north, up, down), symbolizing God's presence everywhere.

The Seven Days

Sukkot lasts seven days, each with special significance.

First Day: Full holiday, no work (like Shabbat)

Days 2-6 (Chol HaMoed): Intermediate days, work permitted but festive

Seventh Day (Hoshana Rabbah): Final day of judgment (continuation from Yom Kippur), special prayers

Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah

Immediately following Sukkot are two additional holy days.

Shemini Atzeret (8th Day): Separate holiday, prayer for rain begins

Simchat Torah (9th Day, or combined with Shemini Atzeret in Israel): Celebrating completion and restart of the annual Torah reading cycle, dancing with Torah scrolls

Historical Development

Temple Period

Sukkot was the most elaborate festival in the Temple.

Water Libation: Special ceremony pouring water on the altar, accompanied by great celebration

Illumination: Huge menorahs lit in the Temple courtyard, visible throughout Jerusalem

The Saying: "One who has not seen the rejoicing at the water-drawing has never seen rejoicing in his life"

After the Temple

Sukkot adapted to life without the Temple, focusing on home observance.

The Sukkah: Became the central practice, accessible to all

The Four Species: Continued as a home ritual

Synagogue Services: Special prayers and Torah readings

The Themes of Sukkot

Joy (Simcha)

Sukkot is called "The Season of Our Joy."

Why Joy?: Harvest is complete, sins are forgiven (after Yom Kippur), we're surrounded by God's protection

The Command: "You shall rejoice in your festival"—joy is not optional but commanded

Gratitude

Thanksgiving for harvest, for protection, for blessings received.

Trust and Faith

Living in fragile structures teaches trust in God rather than material security.

Impermanence

The temporary sukkah reminds us that all earthly dwellings are temporary; only God is permanent.

Hospitality

Inviting guests (physical and spiritual) into the sukkah emphasizes community and generosity.

Modern Observance

Orthodox: Build sukkah, eat all meals there, some sleep there, wave Four Species daily

Conservative: Build sukkah, eat meals there, wave Four Species, attend services

Reform: May build communal sukkah, participate in some rituals, emphasize themes of gratitude and impermanence

Secular/Cultural: May build sukkah as cultural practice, focus on harvest celebration and community

Sukkot's Relevance Today

In our modern world, Sukkot offers essential wisdom:

Questioning Security: In a culture obsessed with security and permanence, Sukkot asks: What truly makes us secure?

Gratitude Practice: Structured thanksgiving combats entitlement and dissatisfaction

Impermanence: Reminder that all material things are temporary; what matters is relationship with the divine

Joy as Practice: Joy isn't just a feeling but a spiritual practice and discipline

Community: Hospitality and gathering in the sukkah emphasize human connection

Whether you're Jewish or not, Sukkot's themes of gratitude, joy, trust, impermanence, and divine protection offer powerful wisdom for navigating modern life's anxieties and materialism.