Sukkot 101
Grab your coziest flannel, a pot of hot soup, and some paper chains — Sukkot is here!
What is Sukkot?
Beginning five days after Yom Kippur, Sukkot is one of the three major holidays during the Jewish calendar (the other two are Passover and Shavuot). The word “Sukkot” means “booths” or “huts,” and refers to the structures many Jewish families and communities build to represent the temporary dwellings the Israelites lived in after their escape from Egypt.
According to tradition, a sukkah should have at least two-and-a-half walls, and a roof made out of thatch or branches — offering enough shade and protection from the sun, but enough space to allow the stars to be seen at night.
Sukkot also has origins in celebrating the autumn agricultural harvest in Israel, and is nicknamed “the festival of joy.” After the solemn observance of Yom Kippur, Sukkot is a time to gather together, enjoy the changing of the seasons, and offer hospitality to our friends, family, and community members inside the sukkah.
What’s it all about?
Sukkot is associated with hospitality, joy, the harvest season, and connection to the earth. . Here are some of the symbols of Sukkot that represent those themes, and that you’ll probably see if you visit a sukkah this year:
Lulav and Etrog: This grouping of four plants, native to the land of Israel, are reminders of our connection to nature. The lulav is a bundle of palm, myrtle, and willow branches, and the etrog is a special citrus fruit (with a delicious scent!).
Decorations: During Sukkot, the sukkah becomes a temporary home — a place where you can eat, chat, and even sleep! You can decorate a sukkah with paper chains, fairy lights, natural decorations (like pumpkins, herbs, gourds, or dried flowers), or anything else you might enjoy. Making these decorations is a great activity for people of all ages — you’re never too old to break out the glue and glitter.
Photos of loved ones: Part of Sukkot is a ceremony called ushpizin, or “welcoming guests,” in which ancestors — past and recent — are welcomed into the sukkah. Many families and communities will have pictures of loved ones in their sukkah to symbolize their participation in the holiday. This ceremony is particularly meaningful this year as we remember the lives lost in the attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, and hope for the release of the hostages taken on that day.
Ways to Observe Sukkot
Sukkot traditions are designed to remind us about the exodus from Egypt, help us mark the changing of the seasons, and give us a special time to feel close to the Earth and to our ancestors. Here are some ways you can join the party and make your own rituals to enjoy this special festival:
- Spend time in a sukkah! Contact your campus Hillel to find out if there’s a sukkah on campus, or a local community that’s opened their sukkah to students. Grab some friends and visit the sukkah for a meal, an afternoon of study, or even a slumber party. (Don’t forget to dress for the weather!)
- Many communities host services and prayers in the sukkah. Often, people stay after the service for meals and to engage in Torah or text study.
- Sukkot is a harvest festival, and a time to celebrate our connection to the seasons! You might enjoy going pumpkin picking, exploring a corn maze, making art with fallen leaves, eating fall-themed foods like soups, breads, or pies (in the sukkah, obviously!), or just taking time to enjoy the weather.
- This year, many communities will be leaving an empty chair at the table in their sukkah to commemorate those killed on October 7, the hostages currently still held in captivity, and the lives lost in the ensuing war. You might include specific people’s names in the ushpizin ritual, welcoming them to share in the blessings of Sukkot as a way to show they are still in our hearts and memories.
- A big theme of Sukkot is hospitality, and caring for our communities. Sukkot is a great time to engage in community service, such as volunteering for a soup kitchen or a meal delivery service, bringing a care package to a sick friend, or cleaning up trash on campus or in a local park.
May your Sukkot be blessed with comfort, joy, and a loving community. Happy Sukkot — or Chag sameach!