What is Sukkot, the festival of booths?

Why do Jews build cabins on Sukkot?

For seven days, Jews build cabins in front of their houses (like in Israel), in their gardens or even sometimes on their balconies. The walls of these cabins can be made of wood, but the roof (called skakh) – which must not rest on the ground – must be vegetal and porous. “The sukkah (hut), explains Rabbi Rivon Krygier, symbolizes human precariousness. It is a representation of our own body, which will only last for a certain time. Likewise, by building this cabin, we know that it will be destroyed. But the time we inhabit it, we must invest it with joy.”

Sukkot begins on October 16, 2024, in the first month of the Jewish calendar. “The month of Tishri (autumn) is full of Jewish holidays,” continues the rabbi. The connection between Yom Kippur and Sukkot is simple: forgiveness leads to reconciliation, reunion and joy,” adds Rabbi Krygier.

What is the meaning of the holiday of Sukkot?

In France, some Jews invite as many people as possible, Jewish or not, into these precarious dwellings. These cabins with open walls and doors encourage Jews among their family, friends, neighbors and community to rejoice, eat and share with each other in joy and good humor. Because this celebration of joy – heir to the end-of-year fruit harvest festival – is also (and above all) that of hospitality and meeting others.

“In the etymology of Soukka, as in that of skakh (the roof of the cabin) there is something that pours out,” specified Rabbi Delphine Horvilleur, in the France culture program Talmudicthere is an overflow of love around us, at the time of Sukkot, and it would be good for this overflow of love to be shared beyond the Jewish calendar of this week. We really need, in these tragic times, this consciousness of unity which is shared under the sukkah.”

What is the origin of Sukkot?

The Christian palm festival, associated today with Easter, undoubtedly comes from the festivities of Sukkot. In biblical times, this holiday was very festive and was already mentioned in the Book of Exodus (Ex. 23:16 and Ex. 34:22). Dances and songs filled the temple in Jerusalem every night. During the day, animal sacrifices were the occasion for feasts, and processions were organized around the altar. “In biblical sources, as well as in the New Testament, sukkot is called ‘the festival’, without an adjective, recalls Rabbi Rivon Krygier. This name comes from the period of the second temple of Jerusalem and the commandment of Deuteronomy (Dt 16- 15): “You will be entirely devoted to joy.”

When is Sukkot celebrated?

Each year, the festival of Sukkot is held from the 15th of Tishri, the 1st month of the calendar year of the Hebrew calendar. In 2024, the celebration begins on the evening of Wednesday October 16, 2024 and ends in the evening of Friday October 25, 2024.