Sukkot: The Days of the Holiday
By: Rivka C. Berman, Contributor
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CHILDREN'S BOOK for AGES 5-11 The MItzvah Gang: A Sukkot Story

Sukkot begins five days after Yom Kippur on the fifteenth day of the Jewish month of Tishrei. Traditional Jews outside of Israel celebrate Sukkot for eight days. Jews in Israel and Reform Jews celebrate the holiday for seven days.

For Jews who keep the traditional interpretations of Jewish law, the holiday begins with Yom Tov when creative activity is not permitted with the exception of cooking from an existing flame. Then there are intermediate days, known as Chol Ha’moed, when creative activity may be performed. During Chol Ha-Moed the holiness of the festival is recalled by holding off from performing work that could be put off until after the holiday.

Sukkot closes with an additional round of holidays. The last day of Sukkot is known as Hoshana Raba, which involved a ceremony in the morning services and other customs. Day eight is known as Shemini Atzeret, a continuation of the holiday that observed as a Yom Tov. Simchat Torah, the day of rejoicing with the Torah, arrives on day nine for Jews outside of Isarel. Reform Jews and Jews in Israel celebrate this holiday together with Shemini Atzeret.

Because the Jewish calendar orients itself with the moon, the Jewish day begins at night. In 2008, Day 1 actually is the 24-hour time period between sunset on Monday, October 12, and sunset Tuesday, October 13.

Mazor Guide for Sukkot brings you much more about the holiday, its meaning and its traditions... See the links below.

Sukkot Home Page Sukkot: Many Names Many Themes Sukkot: The Days of the Holiday Ancient Rituals Shape Sukkot’s Meaning The Sukkah, Meaning and Rituals The Lulav and the Etrog (Esrog) Kohelet: Sukkot Special Reading Shop for Sukkot Articles Pri Etz Hadar by Daniel Feldman