On the fifteenth of Tishrei, we begin the seven day observance of Sukkot or the Feast of Booths. The mood and character of Sukkot is starkly and dramatically different from that of the Days of Awe. In contrast to the Days of Awe with their inward and introspective focus, Sukkot is known as Zman Simchateinu—literally, the time of our joy—a festival on which we are commanded to be happy and rejoice in all the good that G-d has given us. Sukkot is one of the three Shalosh Regalim or Pilgrimage Festivals on which Jews were commanded to journey to the Temple in Jerusalem. Sukkot is also known as Chag HaAsaf or the Festival of the Ingathering as it occurs at the end of the fruit harvest and is a time for people to rejoice in the bounty from their harvests over the past year.

During the seven days of Sukkot, Jews around the world dwell in Sukkot (singular sukkah) which are booths which are meant to remind us of the booths that our ancestors dwelt in during their forty years in the desert. A fundamental aspect of the sukkah is that it is a temporary structure, open to the elements. Just as our ancestors dwelt in Sukkot during their forty year journey in the wilderness, we leave the comforts of our homes as the weather is turning cooler and spend as much time as we can in the sukkah. In order for a sukkah to be kosher, it must have three walls and its roof must be made of natural material which has been cut, known as schach—literally, covering. Bamboo or palm branches can serve as schach. One of the requirements of a sukkah is that one must be able to see the stars through the schach, but there cannot be so much open space that there is more sunlight than shade. The laws of the sukkah’s construction are quite intricate and there are tractates in the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds which deal with them exclusively.

During Sukkot, a person should dwell in the sukkah as much as is possible and/or practical. For many, this means eating all meals in the sukkah, but others study and even sleep in their Sukkot. It is customary to decorate the sukkah with artwork, fruit or other decorations. Sukkah decorating can be a great family or community-building activity.

Another observance of Sukkot is the taking of the Arbah Minim—Four Species—which are first mentioned in Leviticus chapter 23. The Arbah Minim are the palm branch or lulav, myrtle branches (hadassim), willow branches) (aravot) and the etrog or citron. The palm branch, myrtle and willows are bound together and the bundle that they collectively make is referred to simply as the lulav, owing to the lulav’s prominence. On every day of Sukkot (excepting Shabbat), the lulav and etrog are taken and waved in each of the six directions, either in the synagogue during the Shacharit (morning service) or in the sukkah itself. The lulav and etrog are also held and shaken during the Hallel, Psalms 113-118 which is recited on major Jewish holidays as well as during the hakafot or circles around the bimah in the synagogue that are made each day of Sukkot. During these circuits, hoshanot are sung, which are liturgical poems.

The first two days of Sukkot outside of Israel (in Israel, only the first day) are full-fledged holidays, on which observant Jews refrain from work, much like on Shabbat. The remaining five days of Sukkot are Chol HaMoed—literally, weekday or intermediate days of the festival which have a festive atmosphere to them but on which work is permitted.

On each day of Sukkot, the Torah is read. If Shabbat falls during Chol HaMoed, the book of Koehelet—Ecclesiastes—is read in its entirety. Tradition attributes the authorship of this book to King Solomon who is believed to have written it in his old age. Hallel is said on each day of Sukkot as is the Musaf or additional service, commemorating the additional sacrifice that was made in the Temple.

The seventh day of Sukkot is called Hoshanah Rabah or the Great Hoshanah. This is due to the fact that on Hoshanah Rabah during Shacharit, we make seven hakafot around the bimah in the synagogue and at the end of the hakafot; we beat a bundle of five willow branches on the ground. Many believe that this unique custom is entirely agricultural in origin.

On the first two days of Sukkot (the first day only in Israel) festive holiday meals are enjoyed in the sukkah with family and friends. On each evening of Sukkot, some Jews have the custom of welcoming in the Ushpizin—seven of our Biblical ancestors—into the Sukkah with us.

Although it is preferable that every Jewish household have a sukkah, this is not practical in many places. Synagogues and other Jewish communal institutions, such as JCC’s, have Sukkot and many of them are open to the public during designated hours. During Sukkot, many synagogues and other groups hold large communal meals in their Sukkot which are great community-building and social activities.