The Sukkah

The Sukkah

The sukkah, a fragile hut built of branches and leaves, is the main feature of the Sukkot festival.

The origin of the practice of "dwelling in booths" during the festival is not certain. The Pentateuch (fifth book of the Bible) tells us that the sukkah is a reminder of days when Jews wandered in the desert and lived in tents. Many scholars believe this to be a forced interpretation of the word sukkah, and that if the sukkah was really connected with the Exodus, Passover would be the time for dwelling in booths. The Jewish philosophers Philo and Maimonides explained the sukkah as a symbol erected to bring evidence of misfortune at a time of good fortune. Still others believe that the sukkah reminds us that Jews live everywhere only temporarily, wandering eternally.

The sukkah dwelling today, wherever it is located, retains the feeling of impermanence. The celebration calls for dwelling in sukkah for seven days. While dwelling means eating and sleeping, most people limit their activities to eating and study.

Any lightweight material sturdy enough to withstand average regional winds can be used to build the walls of the sukkah. Walls must be between 35 inches and 35 feet high. No Mazuzah is placed on the door jambs.

The roof is made of leaves and branches. Openings must be left in it so that the light of the sun, moon, and stars can be seen. In celebration of the harvest, the sukkah is decorated with fruits and vegetables hung from the roof and the walls.

Hospitality is a basic element of the holiday. An essential ingredient of Sukkot is sharing meals with others, so there must be room for a table and chairs in the sukkah since we eat and visit with friends in it.

Originally found here

Picture from here 

Related Articles

More From Holy Days Articles

The Ninth Plague: Darkness

Exo 10:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be…
The Ninth Plague: Darkness

Dip Your Apple...

Jewish tradition requires us to dip our apple in honey on Rosh Hashana!
Dip Your Apple...
Wearing White for Prayers

Why White on Yom Kippur

People like to wear things that to show how special holidays are to them. The same is true…
Why White on Yom Kippur

Purim

The feast of Purim is a joyous occasion. It is celebrated each year on the 14th and 15th days…
Purim
Western Wall Prayers and Letters

Letters to God

As the High Holy Days approached, Danny Goldstein, the Post Director in Israel, met with Rabbi…
Letters to God
Destruction of the Temple

Tisha B'Av

Tisha B’Av means the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av and is traditionally a day of fasting…
Tisha B'Av

New Year of the Trees

Happy Tu BeShvat, the Jewish New Year of the Trees. Tu BeShevat 2021 begins in the evening of…
New Year of the Trees
Feast of Trumpets

Feast of Trumpets

The Feast of Trumpets is the first of the fall feasts. It begins on the first day of the…
Feast of Trumpets

Tu B'shevat

Tu’B Shevat is the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. Tu’B Shevat is when we celebrate the…
Tu B'shevat

A Woman Won by Love

I have a couple of young male friends who once made a science of flirting. They read books…
A Woman Won by Love
Illustration:

Porkless Shavuot

Calculating the time it took to go from Egypt to Mount Sinai, it is most likely that Moses was…
Porkless Shavuot

Spinach Matzo Balls

Editor's note: This recipe is part of Susie Fishbein's Tricolor Matzo Ball soup.Due to the high…
Spinach Matzo Balls

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation