The Festival of Booths
The Holiday of Sukkot (usually translated as Tabernacles or the Festival of Booths) commemorates the Israelites’ wanderings in the desert following their Exodus from Egypt, during which time they lived in portable shelters or booths. Sukkot is one of three festivals each year during which the Israelites made a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem. It continues the story of the Israelites, which began with the Exodus from Egypt (Passover) and the Giving of the Torah at Sinai (Shavuot) and now ends with the wandering in the desert. In addition to commemorating a central event in the History of the Jewish people, Sukkot marks a pivotal agricultural season: Sukkot falls at the end of the autumn fruit harvest.
Sukkot is celebrated for 7 days from the 15 – 21 of the month of Tishri, followed by Shemini Atzeret, (the eighth day of assembly) which is a separate holiday.
It is traditionally celebrated by building, eating in, and sometimes sleeping in a sukkah, a temporary structure usually constructed of four walls and covered with a roof of tree branches. Along with dwelling in the sukkah, we celebrate by lifting and shaking the four species – a palm branch, three branches of myrtle, two willow branches and a citron (a yellow or green bumpy citrus fruit that looks a lot like a lemon, but could arguably be the most fragrant fruit on the planet.
Both the commandment to dwell in the sukkah and the taking of these four species originate from the Biblical book of Leviticus 23:40, 42:
“You shall take on the first day fruit from a hadar tree, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord seven days.”
“You shall dwell in booths seven days, all citizens of Israel shall dwell in booths.”
Source: http://www.Hillel.org/
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