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How Jews around the world and in New York celebrate Sukkot: traditions and customs

'20.09.2021'

Nurgul Sultanova-Chetin

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On September 21, 2021, the Sukkot holiday, or the Feast of Tabernacles, begins. According to the Jewish calendar, it occurs on the 15th day of the new year. However, the celebration begins at sunset the day before, like all Jewish celebrations, explains "Satellite"... Sukkot is celebrated for seven days - it was established in memory of the 40-year wandering of the Jewish people in the desert on the way from Egypt to the Promised Land.

Photo: Shutterstock

What holiday is it

According to the law of the Torah, Sukkot is one of the three main holidays of the year that Jews should celebrate widely. On the Feast of Tabernacles, they make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and celebrate the harvest.

The celebration is called "Sukkot" because special attention is paid to the covenant to sit in the "sukkah" - a hut near the house. "Sukkot" translated from Hebrew means "huts".

The covenant to be in temporary buildings during this holiday, in which nomads usually live in the desert, is explained in different ways. The first version says that the Jews, setting up a hut near the house, are joining those who wandered forty years in the desert 3 years ago. According to the second version, a person, even being rich, should not forget about poverty.

Customs and traditions

Sukkot is celebrated in huts. They arrange lavish feasts, receive guests and even sleep. According to tradition, huts (they must have at least three walls) are installed in the open air - under a tree or under a canopy.

But what should those Jews who live in megacities do? Modern Jews in New York put sukkis on balconies.

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The American media often publish instructions on how to build this ritual hut for those who live in the apartment.

The stars should be visible through the roof of the sukkah and rain should fall inside. This reminds the person that his life depends on God. The roof was usually made of palm branches or reeds.

Temporary dwellings, according to custom, are decorated from the inside with bouquets of citron, palm branch, river willow and myrtle - they symbolize the unity of the Jewish people.

Sick people, women and travelers are exempted from the injunction to sit in the sukkah.

Torah Reading

One of the important traditions is the reading of the Mosaic Laws - the Torah. Work is prohibited on the first and last day of the holiday.

A special ritual - the "ascension of the lulav" - is another ancient tradition. They raise four types of plants - etrog (citron), lulav (date palm branch), adas (myrtle branch) and arava (willow branch) - and say blessings to them.

Each of these plants, according to custom, corresponds to a specific type of Jewish people, and together they symbolize the unity of the nation. The ceremony is held on all days of Sukkot, except Saturday.

Celebration

Traditionally, candles are lit before sunset on the eve of Sukkot. A blessing of gratitude is also pronounced. The head of the family performs a consecration ceremony over a glass of wine. The ceremony is called Kiddush. During Kiddush, they say a special thanksgiving to the Almighty for the covenant to be in the hut.

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On the first evening, the blessing of bread is performed. But before him it is necessary to perform the ritual of washing hands. The main dishes of the feast are challah (Jewish holiday bread), wine and honey. According to custom, a slice of bread in Sukkot is dipped in honey, as in the Jewish New Year, and not in salt, as is done throughout the year.

Symbol of wealth

Sukkot is a harvest festival, therefore, according to custom, the fruits of the new harvest and dishes prepared from them are served on the festive table.

A wicker challah with honey is a symbol of prosperity and a sweet life next year. Then they drink wine, blessing God, who commanded to live in the sukkah and made it possible to live to this day.

At the end of the meal, they say gratitude to the Almighty for the food, for the Feast of Tabernacles, for Jerusalem, and all the good things that they have in life.

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