Israeli Feast of the Tabernacles Begins Tonight, Rehovot Jews Last Preparations for Sukkot Underway

Jews in Rehovot this evening begin celebrating Sukkot, the Biblical Feast of Tabernacles.

The joyous weeklong festival begins just four days after the somber Yom Kippur Day of Atonement.

Sukkot is a harvest festival, and observant Jews celebrate it by building a flimsy booth, or tabernacle, in their yards or on balconies, covering them with branches and living there for at least part of the week.

Jews also celebrate Sukkot by carrying four types of plants to synagogue and praying over them. The palm branch, lemon-like citron, myrtle and willow sprig symbolize the four seasons of nature. AP