What is Sukkot?
Sukkot is the Jewish Harvest festival, it’s a time to be grateful for everything we have, and to invite people into our homes so that we may share together.
In these modern times most of us are quite disconnected from the actual harvest, we can buy anything we want any time of year from the supermarket without having to think about what it took. Sukkot is a time to remember that we are not just dependant on nature, but we are part of it.
Which makes it all the more important to come together and remember that everything that sustains us, is based on a carefully balanced eco system that needs us all right now, more than ever.
We build a sukkah!
We build a temporary structure and decorate it with leaves and the fruits of the harvest.
We then invite round all our friends and feed them.
Because that’s how Jews like to celebrate the harvest!
Jewish Harvest Values
Jewish values have a lot to say about sharing – from giving a percentage of our income to charity to sharing our time and skills on Mitzva Day.
With that in mind, let’s read together this passage from Deutronomy about not feeling we must take everything for ourselves during the harvest:
When you reap the harvest in your field, and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, do not go back to get it.
leave it for the stranger, the orphan and the bereaved.When you beat your olive trees, do not strip the branches bare,
leave what remains for the stranger, the orphan and the bereaved.When you gather the grapes of your vinyard do not pick over it a second time,
leave what is left for the stranger, the orphan and the bereaved.
Blessing for the sukkah
Todo: Blessing for the sukkah
We shake the lulav
We shake a lulav in 6 directions as we hope for rain, and good weather, for next years harvest. We shake the lulav in all directions because we want the whole world to have the right weather for them.
A traditional lulav is made from 4 species which come from the 4 different climates of Israel – Desert, Mountains, Rivers & Lakes, and Lowlands.
We’re not in Israel, so perhaps transporting Israeli foliage a few thousand miles isn’t the most relevant tradition for us. Our lulav is made of 4 species which can be found in our garden:
- Laurel – Laurel is an evergreen (as well as being excellent decoration for the Sukkah) it represents a long life.
- Hazel – Hazel was used for dowsing (looking for water underground) – it represents the rain we hope for.
- Ash – Ash is a symbol of the strength and resilience which will carry us through another year to the next harvest.
- Apple – Apples are a sign of hospitality, and of sharing and unity.
TODO: A blessing for the lulav
Pass the Lulav around to everyone can have a shake.
Modeh Ani al ha’hayim b’olam shel shefer
מודה אני על החיים בעולם של שפע
I am grateful for living in a world of plenty