How is Sukkot Celebrated?

The festival of Sukkot lasts for seven days.

Holy Days

The first and last days are "holy days" like Shabbat in which work is prohibited. The first day of the holiday is called Sukkot, and the last days of Sukkot are called Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.

Different Days in Israel and the Diaspora

In Israel, these "holy days" are just one day long. Thus, in Israel, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are celebrated as one. Diaspora communities celebrate these holy days of Sukkot 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.

Chol Ha-Moed

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 Sukkahs.

How is Sukkot Celebrated?

In addition to attending prayer services during the holiday, time is spent eating, drinking, playing, singing, learning and sometimes even sleeping in the Sukkah. "Ushpizin" is an Aramaic word for guests, and on Sukkot Jews invite guests into their Sukkahs. Many Jewish communities have "Sukkah Hops" where families walk from Sukkah to Sukkah, each one putting out a different treat to eat.

More

• What is Sukkot?
• Building a Sukkah
• Rejoicing with Four Species
• Sukkot Menus and Recipes