In the book of Leviticus, Jews are instructed to dwell in the Sukkah for all seven days of the Sukkot holiday. In a modern context, most take this to mean centering family gatherings around the sukkah and eating meals inside it, though some devout Jews will even sleep in it.
The following five days are Chol Hamoed (Hebrew: “intermediate days”), during which work is permitted. [5] X Trustworthy Source Chabad. org Online resource for information related to Chabad-Lubavitch and Jewish culture Go to source Note, however, that if Shabbat falls during the intermediate days, it must be observed as normal. Many common activities, like writing, sewing, cooking, braiding hair, and even watering plants are traditionally forbidden on Shabbat. [6] X Research source Complete lists of banned activities are available from Jewish resources online.
On the first two days of Sukkot, the ordinary Amidah (Hebrew: “the standing prayer”) is replaced with a special variation used just for holidays. [8] X Trustworthy Source Chabad. org Online resource for information related to Chabad-Lubavitch and Jewish culture Go to source On the following five intermediate days, the Amidah prayers are said as normal, except that a special “ya’aleh v’yavo” passage is inserted into each. [9] X Trustworthy Source Chabad. org Online resource for information related to Chabad-Lubavitch and Jewish culture Go to source
Note that different religious commentators give different instructions for the order of directions the lulav and etrog should be shaken in. [11] X Research source To most, the precise order isn’t important.
Spend time eating meals and camping out in the Sukkah. Tell stories from scripture, especially those from the 40 years the Israelites spent in the desert. Participate in Sukkah song and dance - many religious songs are made just for Sukkot. [12] X Research source Invite your family to join your Sukkot celebration.
In terms of size, you’ll want your walls at least far enough apart that you’ll have room to eat in the Sukkah. Depending on the size of your family, this can cause the size of your sukkah to vary greatly.
Making a roof from plant material is a way of giving remembrance to the Israelites who wandered in the desert for 40 years after leaving Egypt. During their travels, they had to live in temporary dwellings similar to the sukkah, using whatever materials were available to them for shelter.
Children usually love to help decorate the sukkah. Giving your children a chance to draw on the walls of the sukkah and gather vegetables for display is a great way to get them involved in the holiday from an early age.
Sukkah kits usually aren’t terribly expensive. Depending on the size of the finished sukkah and the materials it’s made out of, a kit will usually cost anywhere from about $50. 00-$120. 00.
It’s perfectly acceptable to save your disassembled Sukkah materials so that you can use them to build another sukkah next year.
Most of the scriptural description of Sukkot comes in the book of Leviticus. Specifically, Leviticus 23:33-43 offer an account of the meeting between God and Moses during which the Sukkot holiday is discussed. [15] X Research source
Keep in mind that Sukkot traditions can vary from community to community. For instance, among non-observant Jews, it’s not uncommon for someone to not even know yow to celebrate Sukkot, while, for traditional or highly Orthodox Jews, the holiday can be a major yearly event.
The subjects of modern Sukkot writings are highly diverse. Some offer new perspectives on the meanings of old traditions, others relate the meaningful personal experiences of the authors, and still others give firsthand instructions for making the best of the holiday. [17] X Trustworthy Source Chabad. org Online resource for information related to Chabad-Lubavitch and Jewish culture Go to source
