Building Hours:Autumn is officially here, which marks the transition from summer to winter. In Judaism, we experience a transition from the High Holy Days - a time when we reflect on the past year, to a time of great joy and giving thanks.
Sukkot, the fall holiday of thanksgiving, starts 5 days after Yom Kippur and lasts for a week. The main focus of Sukkot is the construction of a sukkah, a temporary booth or hut made from natural materials such as branches, bamboo, or palm leaves. A sukkah must have at least three walls, and while the roof can provide some cover, there must be openings in which the sky is visible. The sukkah is a reminder of the days in which the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years. The Jewish people would construct these temporary structures where they would partake in their meals and be protected from the elements and other natural dangers. Today, Jewish people traditionally construct their own sukkah in which they will eat and, in some cases, sleep for a period of eight days or seven if you are in Israel. Immediately following Sukkot, Jewish people observe Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, a joyous day during which we celebrate the completion of the annual reading of the Torah. As part of the celebration, the Torah scrolls are taken from the ark and carried or danced around the synagogue seven times.
Another integral component of Sukkot is the “Four Species” or “Lulav and Etrog.” These consist of the lulav (a palm branch), hadas (myrtle branches), aravot (willow branches), and etrog (a citron fruit). These four items represent the harvest, and they are held together and waved in six directions during special prayers, symbolizing the unity of the Jewish people and their connection to G-d.
At the JCC of the Lehigh Valley, our own sukkah was constructed and was then decorated by our wonderful ECE students. During the holiday, each class had the opportunity to eat and spend time in the sukkah, where the students enjoyed being outside and taking part in the mitzvah of eating in the sukkah.
From all of us at the JCC, we hope that you had a meaningful Sukkot. Am Yisrael Chai!
