Sukkot in Israel: Feast of Tabernacles
Sukkot begins on the 15th of Tishrei, the Hebrew calendar date associated with the festival in Israel. It recalls the Israelites’ wilderness shelters and has an agricultural meaning tied to the gathering of the harvest.[1][2]
A festival of shelters and harvest
Sukkot is a Jewish festival observed for seven days. Its name refers to temporary shelters, and the Torah connects the practice of dwelling in them with the Israelites’ journey after the Exodus from Egypt.[2]
The festival also carries an agricultural meaning: it is associated with the ingathering of produce. In ancient Israel, Sukkot was one of the pilgrimage festivals linked to Jerusalem and the Temple.[2]
A public holiday and day of rest
Israel’s Basic Law recognizes the Jewish calendar alongside the civil calendar and sets Shabbat and Jewish festivals as regular days of rest. It also gives non-Jews the right to observe their own Sabbath and holidays.[1]
The Ministry of Labor’s employment guide lists the first day of Sukkot among Israel’s legal holidays. Work and time off can depend on an employee’s circumstances and applicable arrangements; the guide for foreign workers says non-Jewish workers may choose Jewish holidays or holidays of their own religion, in coordination with the employer.[3]
Sukkahs and the Four Species
A sukkah is a temporary shelter built for the festival. The Nature and Parks Authority describes its roof covering, called s’chach, as plant material; it should provide shade while leaving a view of the sky. Families and communities use sukkahs for meals and time together.[2]
Another central observance is the Four Species: an etrog, a palm branch known as a lulav, myrtle, and willow. The Nature and Parks Authority cautions people not to cut protected branches or gather these plants from the wild. Municipal and regional authorities arrange s’chach distribution for residents, and the authority advises obtaining the species from designated cultivated sources.[2][4]
What residents and visitors may notice
The legal holiday status means government services and workplaces can follow holiday closures, while arrangements vary by organization and across the festival period. The available sources do not establish one opening-hours rule for every shop, bank, or transport service, so check individual providers before travelling or arranging business.[1][3]
Sukkot is also a popular time to visit nature and heritage sites. Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority has described placing kosher sukkahs in national parks and nature reserves so visitors can eat there during a day outdoors. Specific sites and activities vary, so check the relevant site’s current notices.[2]
Frequently asked questions
When is Sukkot in Israel?
Is Sukkot a day off in Israel?
What is open during Sukkot?
What do people do in a sukkah?
People spend time and eat meals in a temporary shelter called a sukkah. Its roof covering is made from plant material, and the Four Species are used as part of the festival’s observances.[2]
Sources and references
Sources used for Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) in Israel:
- חוקי היסוד של מדינת ישראל- The Knesset
- בַּסֻּכֹּת תֵּשְׁבוּ, שִׁבְעַת יָמִים- Israel Nature and Parks Authority
- Employment- Ministry of Labor, State of Israel
- קטיף הדס ערבות וסכך של עצי התמר מהטבע - אסור!- Israel Nature and Parks Authority