Five Sukkot Traditions Your Neighbor is Wondering About
September 30, 2024 | Shabbat and Holidays
By Brenda Footer
For many Jews, celebrating Sukkot is something they’ve grown up with, but for those unfamiliar, it’s kind of a weird holiday. There are little huts, weird fruit and people popping in and out all week. Maybe you know all these traditions, or maybe you’re the one asking “Hey, what’s going on over there?”
We compiled five questions our neighbors have asked us about the Sukkot holiday along with their answers.
Why are they building that flimsy hut?
In the Torah we are commanded to celebrate the Festival of Booths, the holiday of Sukkot, which recalls how the Israelites wandered in the desert awaiting the Promised Land.
As part of the holiday, we are instructed to dwell in temporary structures. According to rabbinical texts, the hut should be sturdy enough to withstand wind, but not permanent (walls can be made of any material). The roof should allow in more shade than sun and be made of material that grows from, but is not attached to, the ground (bamboo, evergreen boughs, and palm leaves are popular coverings). Many say that you should still be able to see the stars at night, although that isn’t law.
If you’re not quite ready to build a Sukkah in your yard, try these directions for an edible sukkah.
What is that giant lemon and collection of leaves? Why are they waving it around?!
We celebrate Sukkot by gathering the branches of three trees – willow, myrtle and palm – into a bouquet, or lulav, and holding them together with an etrog, or citron, and shaking them.
This instruction comes straight from the Torah. No one knows for sure why we do this, but there are lots of theories, ranging from masculine/feminine symbolism to the four letters that represent Gd’s name. Check out this PJ Library guide on how to shake the lulav.
I heard there’s ghosts!
No, it’s not a séance, or a spooky Halloween project, but there is a tradition of welcoming our ancestors into the sukkah. These are called the Ushpizin (Aramaic for guests).
The first ancestor that we “invite” to our sukkah is Abraham, because he was the first biblical character to welcome strangers (we find out later his guests were actually angels and messengers of God). We then go on to invite one biblical patriarch each night (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron and David). Some people also include Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca, Leah, and other women from the Torah.
Each person reminds us of certain Jewish values. You can also choose your own ushpizin. You can invite anyone who has influenced you or that you have learned from. Here’s a cute song to sing with your kids about the guests.
Why are all these kids running in and out of the yard?
It’s very common in some neighborhoods for families (especially kids) to stop by each other’s sukkot (plural for sukkah). After all, one of the values we hold up during Sukkot is Welcoming Guests (Hachnasat Orchim in Hebrew).
Sometimes communities organize a sukkah walk or “hop” where people can take a tour of many members’ sukkot. Here’s your guide from Kosher.com to designing the perfect table for just such an occasion.
What does it look like in there?
Are you the interior designer in your family? Or maybe your kid is obsessed with making art? Then Sukkot is the holiday for you! While our sukkah dwellings are only temporary, that doesn’t mean we can’t make them inviting and cozy.
The Jewish value of hiddur mitzvah (beautifying the commandment) means that there is always room in the sukkah for one more decoration. Here’s some great ideas from Judaica.com to get you started.