Sukkot 2024

(also spelled Soukkot or Sukkot) is a Jewish holiday that lasts 7 days in Israel and 8 days in the diaspora. In 2024, Sukkot will begin on the evening of Wednesday, October 16 and end on the evening of Wednesday, October 23 (or Thursday, October 24 in the diaspora).

Main traditions :

Construction and habitation of a sukkah: A temporary hut reminiscent of the shelters of the Israelites in the desert.
Loulav and Etrog : Shake the four species (palm, myrtle, willow and citron) each day of the festival.
Festive meals in the sukkah.
Special prayers, including the recitation of Hallel.
Simchat Beit HaShoeva : Joyful celebrations with music and dancing.
Hoshana Rabba : The 7th day, considered the day of final judgment.
Sukkot is a time of joy and gratitude, commemorating divine protection during the Exodus and celebrating the fall harvest.

History :

The holiday commemorates the Israelites' journey into the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. For 40 years, they lived in temporary shelters (sukkot in Hebrew), protected by G-d.
The ritual of the four species. The four species (arba minim in Hebrew) are:
a) Lulav: A palm branch

b) Hadass: Three myrtle branches

c) Arava: Two willow branches

d) Etrog: A citron (citrus fruit)

Ritual :

The four species are gathered and held together.
A special blessing is recited.
They are waved in six directions (east, south, west, north, up, down) symbolizing divine omnipresence.

Meaning : Each species would represent a part of the human body or a type of Jew, emphasizing the unity of the people.
During Sukkot, meals are traditionally eaten in the sukkah. Here are some food customs:
Consumption of seasonal fruits and vegetables, symbolizing the harvest.
Stuffed dishes (e.g. stuffed cabbage, stuffed eggplant) representing abundance.
Kreplach: ravioli stuffed with meat, often served in soup.
Etrog: After the party, citron is often used to make jams or liqueurs.
Ushpizin: Tradition of inviting symbolic (biblical figures) and real "guests", encouraging hospitality.
Some have the custom of eating round foods (like dumplings or apples) symbolizing the cycle of the year.