Succot: The Jewish Holiday :: essays research papers

Succot The Jewish HolidayAfter the Exodus from slavery in Egypt, the wandering Jews lived in tentsor booths, called Succots. They were pitched wherever they happened to stop forthe night. Today it is called the Succot the fete of booths remembering boththe ancient agricultural booths and those of the Exodus. The harvest feast ofthanksgiving, Succot, begins five days after Yom Kippur, and lasts for eight-spotdays. The first two days ar the nearly holy, during which most Jews do not work.The families construct the booths and decorate it with branches, and leaves,fruits, and other designs. The roof is covered lightly, so the stars and the twitchcan still be seen. Most Jewish families eat all their meals in the Succot, whilesome even sleep in them.During the Succot festival, thanks ar given for all growing plants by exploitationfour plants which are symbolic of all the rest. These four plants also representthe Jewish people. The Etrog, or the citrus tree fruit, stands for the pe ople who areeducated in the Torah and who do good deeds. The Lulav, or branch of the datepalm, stands for the Jewish people who have knowledge still no good deeds. TheHadas,or myrtle, symbolizes the people who do good deeds, but are not educated.The Aravah, or willow, stands for the people who have no good deeds and noeducation. These plants are carried around the synagogue in a onward motion whileprayers are recited for blessings on the land and fruit of Israel. In biblical eons, the willow, the palm, and the Etrog were used in decorating the Succot.At the end of the Autum harvest, on the fifteenth day of Tishri(September-October) Succot is celebrated. It is believed that the festivaloriginated with the ancient Canaanite celebration after the grape harvest at theend of the annual dry season. During this time rites were performed to incouragethe rains. Boughs of fruit trees and evergreens were made into little boothswhich the early Jewish farmers lived during the festival.The last day of Succot is called Simhat Torah. It means the "rejoicing ofthe Torah." On this day, the reading of the Torah is completed, and is thenSuccot The Jewish Holiday essays question papers Succot The Jewish HolidayAfter the Exodus from slavery in Egypt, the wandering Jews lived in tentsor booths, called Succots. They were pitched wherever they happened to stop forthe night. Today it is called the Succot the festival of booths remembering boththe ancient agricultural booths and those of the Exodus. The harvest festival ofthanksgiving, Succot, begins five days after Yom Kippur, and lasts for eightdays. The first two days are the most holy, during which most Jews do not work.The families construct the booths and decorate it with branches, and leaves,fruits, and other designs. The roof is covered lightly, so the stars and the skycan still be seen. Most Jewish families eat all their meals in the Succot, whilesome even sleep in them.During the Succot festival, thanks are given for all growing plants by usingfour plants which are symbolic of all the rest. These four plants also representthe Jewish people. The Etrog, or the citrus fruit, stands for the people who areeducated in the Torah and who do good deeds. The Lulav, or branch of the datepalm, stands for the Jewish people who have knowledge but no good deeds. TheHadas,or myrtle, symbolizes the people who do good deeds, but are not educated.The Aravah, or willow, stands for the people who have no good deeds and noeducation. These plants are carried around the synagogue in a procession whileprayers are recited for blessings on the land and fruit of Israel. In biblicaltimes, the willow, the palm, and the Etrog were used in decorating the Succot.At the end of the Autum harvest, on the fifteenth day of Tishri(September-October) Succot is celebrated. It is believed that the festivaloriginated with the ancient Canaanite celebration after the grape harvest at theend of the annual dry season. During this time r ites were performed to incouragethe rains. Boughs of fruit trees and evergreens were made into little boothswhich the early Jewish farmers lived during the festival.The last day of Succot is called Simhat Torah. It means the "rejoicing ofthe Torah." On this day, the reading of the Torah is completed, and is then