Sukkot

When Israelites escaped Egypt, they lived in temporary shelters like sukkot in the desert. This was one of the most difficult times for all of the Jewish people of Israel, and to remember this time, they celebrated the Sukkot 101 festival. Other than that, this festival is also celebrated to honor the harvesting season. When is this day celebrated in Israel, and what’s the history of it? In this article, you’ll learn all about it.

Stay around until the end.

What’s Sukkot?

A Jewish festival called Sukkot is celebrated all over Israel on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, usually in September or October. It’s a festival to thank the ancestors of the Israelites who had to live in sukkahs after escaping Egypt, a temporary shelter in the desert. If you need to learn what this festival is, it comes from Sukkah, which means a temporary house made out of branches of leaves. 

This festival is also celebrated to honor and welcome the harvesting season. During this festival, families build and dwell in simple, temporary huts known as sukkot, often with roofs made of branches or leaves. This celebration involves sharing meals in these huts, symbolizing unity and gratitude for seven days. 

History and Origins of Sukkot

Every autumn, the Jews celebrate this Festival, an event commemorating the 40 years they wandered in the desert after leaving Egypt. During that time, they lived in branch and leaf shelters called sukkots. 

One of Judaism’s three pilgrimage festivals is the Feast of Tabernacles, Passover, and Shavuot. During this time, there are a lot of traditions and customs associated with it, such as building and decorating a sukkah. This temporary dwelling symbolizes the sukkot of the desert.

During this holiday, family and friends come together, share meals, and enjoy each other’s company. It reminds us to appreciate community and nature.

Celebrations of Sukkot

There are many amazing things that Jewish people do in Israel to celebrate this beautiful day beautifully. 

1. Building and Decorating a Sukkah

Sukkah is a temporary shelter of branches and leaves. This was the house in which Jewish people used to live when they escaped from Egypt. During this festival, Jewish people make sukkahs and decorate them with fruits, vegetables, and other things. This is to remember what problems their ancestors had to go through. 

2. Eating Meals in the Sukkah

After making the Sukkah and decorating it properly, the Jewish people sit in it and eat. Some people even sleep in the sukkah to remember their ancestors.

3. Waving the Lulav and Etrog

Another important custom of this festival is waving the lulav and etrog. There’s a lulav made of palm, myrtle, and willow branches and an etrog made of citron fruit. These are waved in all directions to symbolize God’s presence everywhere.

4. Singing and Dancing

It’s needless to say that singing and dancing is a crucial part of any festival. So, Jewish people also dance and sing traditional songs to make this day even more beautiful. 

5. Giving to Charity

As part of the holiday, donating to charity is customary, and many communities will host special events and fundraisers to help the less fortunate.

This is how this festival is celebrated in Israel. However, when is this day celebrated? Let’s talk about its dates and schedule. 

Dates of 2023,2024,2025,2026 Sukkot

Many of you may be wondering when the festival is celebrated. Thus, I’ve mentioned the dates of this festival 2023, 2024,2025,2026 and 2027.

Year	(First Day)
2023	September 29
2024	October 16
2025	October 6
2026	September 25

Regional and cultural Variations

Jewish celebrations of this festival differ from region to region and culture to culture within the Jewish community. In Israel, the festival often features communal sukkots and vibrant street decorations. Ashkenazi Jews may invite symbolic guests, while Sephardic traditions showcase regional culinary specialties. As a universal event, Sukkot is one of gratitude, unity, and joy, regardless of whether the focus is on agriculture or nature.

Conclusion

Sukkot is a famous Jewish festival celebrated in Israel to remember and honor their ancestors’ time when they escaped from Egypt and lived in the Sukkah, a temporary shelter made up of branches and leaves. It’s also celebrated to celebrate harvest time.