Sukkot is coming. The Festival of Sukkot will last for seven days from sunset October 13, 2008 to nightfall October 20, 2008, if you dont know. It is usual to build booths on these days then to spend all the time there as far as possible with the family and close friends. Sukkot is a harvest festival and referred to as Chag Ha-Asif , the Festival of Ingathering. I’ll try to make photos during the Holidays then to put them here. Now several worlds about Sukkot. First of all how Sukka must look. Must be nice, something like this one:
By the way, this is my picture, it is done specially for you . Hag Sameah!:-)
Sukkot observance involves a branch of a beautiful tree, (palm branches) and Four Species (arba minim in Hebrew).
” The four species in question are an etrog (a citrus fruit similar to a lemon native to Israel; in English it is called a citron), a palm branch (in Hebrew, lulav), two willow branches (aravot) and three myrtle branches (hadassim). The six branches are bound together and referred to collectively as the lulav, because the palm branch is by far the largest part. The etrog is held separately. With these four species in hand, one recites a blessing and waves the species in all six directions (east, south, west, north, up and down), symbolizing the fact that G-d is everywhere. Detailed instructions for this ritual can be found under Sukkot Blessings.
The four species are also held and waved during the Hallel prayer in religious services, and are held during processions around the bimah (the pedestal where the Torah is read) called hakafot each day during the holiday. These processions commemorate similar processions around the altar of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. This part of the service is known as Hoshanot, because while the procession is made, we recite a prayer with the refrain, “Hosha na!” (please save us!). On the seventh day of Sukkot, seven circuits are made. For this reason, the seventh day of Sukkot is known as Hoshanah Rabbah (the great Hoshanah).”
