Celebrate Sukkot: Israel’s Festival of Booths and Harvest
Sukkot is a major Jewish festival commemorating the autumn harvest and the biblical Exodus. Families build temporary huts called sukkahs to dine and sometimes sleep in for seven days. This holiday blends agricultural gratitude with historical remembrance across the country.
History and Origins
Sukkot has a dual significance rooted in the Torah. Agriculturally, it marks the end of the harvest year in the Land of Israel, historically known as the Festival of Ingathering. Theologically, it commemorates the forty years the Israelites spent dwelling in temporary booths during their desert journey after leaving Egypt.
Traditions and Food
Observant families construct a sukkah featuring walls made of canvas or wood and a roof composed of organic plant material called s'chach. Throughout the week, meals are eaten inside this shelter, and many men sleep there. Participants also perform a daily ritual shaking ceremony using the Four Species: the lulav, myrtle, willow, and etrog.
Closures and Travel
The first day of Sukkot and the concluding Shemini Atzeret are strict holy days in Israel when businesses close and public transit operates on reduced holiday schedules. The intermediate days, known as Chol HaMoed, see many businesses operating on limited hours while local tourism spikes as families travel domestically.
Questions about Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)
When does Sukkot take place?
Sukkot begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, typically occurring in September or October on the Gregorian calendar.
Do businesses close during Sukkot in Israel?
The first day and Shemini Atzeret involve strict closures, while intermediate days feature reduced operating hours and high tourist activity.