“Sukkot” (which is also known as the spelling “Succot” or “Sukkos”, or in Indonesian, the celebration of “Pondok Daun”) is a Jewish holiday that falls on the 15th day of the month “Tishri “, exactly five days after the feast of “Yom Kippur . Sukkot was originally a form of celebration of the peasants to give thanks to God for a successful harvest. It is a joyful celebration that lasts for 7-8 days with various traditional practices accompanying it. The most famous of these is the construction of the “Sukkah”, a small hut or hut as a picture of the dwellings of farmers in ancient times as well as temporary residences used by the Prophet Moses and all the Israelites during their 40-year wandering in the desert.
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Part 1 of 3: Practicing the Sukkot Tradition
Step 1. Use the Sukkot mindset
Sukkot is a joyful celebration as well as a great feast for all Jews! In fact, Sukkot is actually closely related to the feeling of joy which in the Jewish tradition is called “'Z'man Simchateinu”', or “the season of joy”. During the seven-day celebration of Sukkot, Jews encourage one another to celebrate God's help in their lives and rejoice while remembering the goodness and good fortune they experienced during the previous year. Sukkot is a time to rejoice with family and friends, so be prepared to throw away all negative thoughts and feelings while preparing for this celebration. Be happy, positive and most importantly, give thanks to God for a whole week.
Step 2. Build a Sukkah
As mentioned earlier, one of the most well-known traditional practices is to build a Sukkah, which is a very special hut. These lightweight huts can be made from a variety of materials, including canvas or other fabrics, as long as they can withstand gusts of wind. The traditional Sukkah roof is made of leaves, tree branches and other plants. The sukkah is usually also decorated on the inside with religious images and symbols. For more information on establishing the Sukkah, see the section below.
In the book of Leviticus, the Jews are commanded to "dwell" in the Sukkah for the seven days of the Sukkot festival. In today's context, most people understand it as an activity of gathering with family during Sukkot and eating together in the Sukkah. Some Jews who are very strict with tradition will even spend the night in the Sukkah
Step 3. Do not work on the first two days of the Sukkot celebration
Although the Sukkot festival period lasts for 7 days, the first two days are the most blessed major days. In these 2 days, just like on the Sabbath (Shabbat), most work activities are avoided, as a form of respect for God. Specifically, any activity that is forbidden to be carried out on the Sabbath is also prohibited during the first two days of the Sukkot celebration, except cooking, baking, lighting fires, and carrying objects. During these first two days, people celebrating Sukkot are advised to pray and rejoice with their families.
- The next five days are called “Chol Hamoed”, or “middle days”, and people are allowed to move and work during those days. However, note that if the Sabbath falls on any of the five days, all Sabbath regulations will continue as usual.
- Many common activities such as writing, sewing, cooking, braiding hair, and even watering plants are prohibited on the Sabbath. You can get a complete list of all activities that are prohibited on the Sabbath from Jewish online sources.
Step 4. Say the Hallel prayer every day during the Sukkot celebration
During this celebration, the usual prayers offered in the morning, evening and evening are supplemented with special prayers regarding this celebration. These prayers vary depending on which day it is, and there are special prayers for the first two days and special prayers for the middle five days. But according to tradition, the complete Hallel prayer needs to be said every day during the Sukkot celebration, the time after the usual morning prayer. This prayer is offered by reciting verses from the book of Psalms chapters 113-118.
- On the first two days of the celebration of Sukkot, the usual Amidah prayer is replaced with certain variations specifically reserved for the holidays.
- In the next five mid-days, the Amidah prayer continued as usual, but with the addition of the reading “ya'aleh v'yavo” inserted in each prayer.
Step 5. Shake “lulav” and “etrog”
Apart from building and gathering in the Sukkah, this is the most important tradition in the celebration of Sukkot. On the first day of the Sukkot celebration, those who celebrate it will perform a ritual of waving a bunch of tree branches (called “lulav”) and fruit (called “etrog”) in all directions. Lulav is a series made of a single palm tree leaf, two willow branches and three myrtle branches, which are woven together with knitted leaves. Etrog is a fruit that resembles a lemon that is commonly grown in the area of Israel. To perform this ritual, hold the lulav in the right hand and the etrog in the left, say the Bracha blessing on these objects, then shake them in six directions: north, south, east, west, up, and down, to symbolize that God is everywhere.
Note that religious scholars give varying instructions regarding the order in which the lulav and etrog wags are directed. For most people, the order of these directions is not important
Step 6. Enjoy the rich traditions of Sukkot
Establishing a Sukkah and practicing the ritual of waving twigs and fruit are indeed two of the most important traditions that are very well known in Sukkot celebrations, but these are not all. Sukkot is a celebration that has an incredible wealth of traditions, and we will not be able to list its practices one by one here. These traditions can vary between families and between regions, so you can investigate Sukkot traditions around the world when planning your own celebration. Here are some ideas you might consider celebrating Sukkot:
- Eat together and spend the night in Sukkah.
- Tell each other stories from the scriptures, especially from the history of the Israelites' journey of wandering for 40 years in the desert.
- Sing along and dance to the songs in the Sukkah, there are many religious songs written especially for the celebration of Sukkot.
- Invite your family to celebrate Sukkot with you.
Part 2 of 3: Building a Sukkah
Step 1. Use a wall material that can withstand wind gusts
Sukkah huts, which are a typical Sukkot tradition, are quite easy to build. A four-sided hut must have at least three walls (a fourth wall can be taken from a pre-existing building wall). One of the walls can be low in size or in the form of parts that can be dismantled so that people can enter and leave the Sukkah hut. The materials used to construct the Sukkah may vary, but since the Sukkah is only required to stand for seven days, lighter materials are certainly more suitable. The only traditional requirement for this wall is that it can withstand gusts of wind. With this definition, canvas material stretched on a strong frame can be a great choice.
In terms of size, you need walls that are far enough apart from each other, so that there is enough space for a family to eat together in the Sukkah. Depending on how many members you have in your family, you will need to determine the appropriate size of the Sukkah
Step 2. Add a roof made of plants
According to tradition, the roof of the Sukkah is made of plant materials, such as tree branches, leaves, twigs, etc. These ingredients can be purchased or taken directly (in the right way) from nature. The roof of the Sukkah must be thick enough to provide shade and protection during the day, but you should still be able to see the stars at night.
Making a roof out of plant material is a way of reminiscing about a time when the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years after leaving Egypt. During this wandering journey, they had to stay in temporary dwellings that resembled a sukkah, and used whatever materials were available for shelter
Step 3. Decorate Your Sukkah
Decorating the Sukkah (albeit modestly) is seen as an honorable part of the Sukkot celebration. These traditional decorations can be harvested vegetables (eg, corn, pumpkin, water squash) that are hung on the walls or beams of the cottage frame or placed in corners. Some other examples of traditional decorations that can be used are paper strings, hanging ornaments, religious themed pictures, colorful cellophane crafts, or any other object you or your children would like to make.
Children are usually happy to help make Sukkah decorations. Giving your children the opportunity to draw on the Sukkah wall and collect vegetables to decorate is a good way to involve them in this celebration from an early age
Step 4. Alternatively, purchase a ready-made Sukkah package
If you have limited time or don't have the materials needed to build a Sukkah, don't worry! Many religious goods stores sell ready-made Sukkah packages. This kind of package helps you build your own Sukkah without having to prepare any materials, so you can save a lot of time. As a bonus, these packages are usually easy to disassemble for reuse next year.
Sukkah packages usually don't cost too much. Depending on the final size of the Sukkah and the materials it is made of, a package usually costs around Rp. 650,000-1,500,000
Step 5. Keep the Sukkah standing until the Simchat Torah has ended
The traditional sukkah remains in place during the Sukkot celebration, and serves as a place for gathering, eating together and praying together for the seven days. Two days immediately after the celebration of Sukkot are the days that are considered holy, namely "Shemini Atzeret" and "Simchat Torah". These two days are not part of the celebration of Sukkot, but are closely related to it. That is why, the Sukkah is usually left standing until the day of the Simchat Torah ends.
Disassembling the Sukkah and storing the materials and equipment for reuse in the next year is a common thing and is considered reasonable to do
Part 3 of 3: Living the Meaning of the Celebration of Sukkot
Step 1. Read the Torah to learn about the origins of the Sukkot tradition
Although Sukkot was originally a celebration of agricultural crops from ancient times, its modern form, which is associated with religious significance, is actually derived from the Hebrew scriptures. According to the Torah and the Old Testament in the Bible, God spoke to the prophet Moses as he led the Israelites on a journey in the wilderness, then instructed him about the tradition of the celebration of Sukkot. Reading the original account of the origins of the Sukkot tradition can help you appreciate the spiritual significance of this celebration, especially if you are celebrating it for the first time.
Most of the discussion of Sukkot in the scriptures is in Leviticus. Specifically, Leviticus 23:33-43 mentions the Lord's encounter with Moses to talk about the Sukkot tradition
Step 2. Attend the Sukkot celebration service at the nearest synagogue
Sukkot is known to be closely associated with certain traditional practices, such as establishing the Sukkah together in one family. However, the entire Jewish community is also advised to gather together to celebrate Sukkot in the form of a worship service in a house of worship or synagogue. At the Sukkot worship service which is usually held in the morning, the congregation together say the Amidah prayer and then continue with the Hallel prayer, as is the tradition in the Sukkot celebration. After that, the congregation recited the Hoshanot psalms specifically to ask God for forgiveness. The reading of scriptures during the celebration of Sukkot is usually taken from the book of Proverbs.
Step 3. Meet with a rabbi to discuss Sukkot
If you have questions about Sukkot or any traditions associated with it, you can consult a rabbi or other experienced expert on Judaism. These people are usually very happy to discuss the cultural and religious origins of the Sukkot tradition and explain detailed instructions on how to celebrate it.
Keep in mind that Sukkot traditions may vary in each community group. For example, Jews who are not very strict with tradition may never know about the celebration of Sukkot, while those who still hold fast to tradition and are still very orthodox view it as the most important annual event
Step 4. Read comparison books on Sukkot
Not all information about Sukkot is found in ancient texts or in scriptures. There are so many explanations about Sukkot that have been written down over the years by rabbis, religious scholars, and even laypeople. Many essays and views on Sukkot were written in modern times. Most of the comparative material describing Sukkot is fairly easy to read and study, usually easier than the older texts. You are free to do your own research and enter the keyword “essays on Sukkot” or the like into an online search engine.
The topics of discussion in modern writings on Sukkot vary widely. Some of them take a perspective on the meaning of ancient traditions, others tell about the author's personal experiences that are very meaningful, and still others provide direct instructions for celebrating Sukkot in the best way. There is so much information you can get out there, don't be afraid to look around
Tips
- If you cut down a tree as winter approaches, you can use the branches as additional material to build a sukkah.
- Remember that you have to have fun, so have fun this festive season!
- You are also commanded to rest/sleep and eat in the Sukkah. However, if it is a rainy day so that the roof of the Sukkah leaks and rainwater drips into your soup bowl, this command is of course no longer valid.
- You can use a plastic sheet to wrap the outer side of the Sukkah so that cold winds don't infiltrate the inside of the Sukkah. However, do not use this tarp to wrap the roof of the Sukkah.
- Smell the fragrance of etrog -- this is the fragrance and sweetness of the holiday.
- Let the little ones make the Sukkah decorations while the adults build them, so everyone can have fun together and stay safe.
- Sukkot is a tradition celebrated by the family, so you need to invite the whole family to join in the celebration.
Warning
- When flicking the lulav and etrog backwards, be careful not to get into the eyes of others around you.
- If the "pitom" (the part at the bottom end that resembles the shape of a knob) is detached from the etrog, the etrog cannot be used anymore. So, be careful not to miss this part.
- Since everything in a Sukkah is made up of its own parts, don't decorate it by attaching/gluing any object that you want to reuse in its original condition.
- Building and erecting the Sukkah must be done by an adult or with the help of an adult, as there is always a risk of an accident causing pain.
