More of this Feature • Part 1: Sukkot • Part 2: The Sukkah • Part 3: Four Species • Part 4: Celebrating • Part 5: Recipes • Part 6: Sukkot Links

Related Resources • Rosh HaShana • Yom Kippur • Simchat Torah • Jewish Holiday Calendar

Sukkot lasts for seven days. The first days and last days are holidays like Shabbat in which work is prohibited. In Israel, these "holy days" are just one day long. Diaspora communities celebrate them for two days. The extra day in the Diaspora commemorates a time when signal fires and couriers were used to tell those in the Diaspora that a festival was starting at the Temple in Jerusalem. The last days of Sukkot are called Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.

The intermediate days of Sukkot are called Chol Ha-Moed, and work is permitted on these days. In Israel, school children are on vacation during this week. During Chol Ha-Moed Sukkot, many people take hikes around Israel and have parties in which they invite people to eat with them in their sukkot.

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~ Lisa Katz

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