THE BASICS

Sukkot means "tents", "booths", and "temporary shelters", referring to the temporary dwellings in which the children of Israel lived during their forty years of wandering in the desert after the Egyptian exodus. "...I gave the children of Israel dwellings in tents when I brought them out of Egypt..." (Leviticus 23:42). The Festival commemorates this period in Israel's history.

But its significance is greater than mere historical commemoration. The primary spiritual motive for recalling - and representing - the "temporary dwelling" is to express our trust in God, who provides us with security, with bitachon. This motive is fuelled by the experiences of the time of wandering - manna, water and so on - and the feast, therefore, gives emphasis to the belief that God in some way provides for man's needs and man is grateful for this. All this is symbolised by the sukkah (tent), the precarious, open-air shelter in which Jews are required to live for a week.

This spiritual dimension is further emphasised by the fact that the Torah also specifies the time of the festival, which could be at any time of the year, since it is not linked to a specific historical event. It stipulates that it is to be observed with the last harvest of the year, "when the harvest from the threshing floor and the calf is gathered" (Deuteronomy 16:13), when the feeling of gratitude and thanksgiving to the Eternal One who provides for man's needs is strengthened.

SEVERAL JOYFUL RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES, MANY SONGS AND DANCES ACCOMPANY THIS CELEBRATION: