Rehovot Sukkot begins at Sundown, Observes Israelites 40 Years in Desert

Rehovot is "preparing for the joyous holiday of Sukkot, which begins at sundown today.

An agricultural holiday, Sukkot follows on the heels of the solemn holiday of Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. Sukkot commemorates the 40-year period during which the Israelites wandered in the desert, living in temporary shelters.

To celebrate the holiday, some families build a sukkah, or hut, in their yards; others eat under a sukkah at their synagogue. Traditionally, children decorate the sukkah with fruits and signs quoting Bible verses or depicting scenes from Israel. Sukkah kits are available online.

Sukkahs symbolize the huts in which Israelites lived after their flight from Egypt.



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The sukkah is a temporary dwelling that must have at least three sides. The roof must be made from something that grew from the ground, such as tree branches, corn stalks, bamboo reeds, sticks or two-by-fours. The roof should be loosely constructed so there is more shade than sunlight, but the sky must be visible.

During services, congregants celebrate Sukkot by waving a Lulav — a combination of willow, myrtle and palm branches — bound up with an etrog, a lemon-like citrus fruit.

Shimi Atzeret falls on the eighth day of Sukkot. It is a day of prayer for rain at the beginning of the rainy season in Israel.

Simchat Torah — rejoicing in the Torah — is the first day after Sukkot. The celebration marks the end of the appointed Torah readings for the year and the beginning of a new annual cycle."

Source: Michele Dargan. Traditions part of Sukkot celebration: Holiday beginning at sundown observes Israelites 40 years in desert. Daily News (26 September 2007) [FullText]