Sukkot 2011/5772

Sundown tonight marks the beginning of the Jewish feast of Sukkot. (Also known as Tabernacles because we are to "Tabernacle with God").

For forty years, the Jewish people traversed the Sinai Desert, following the Exodus from Egypt. During this time miraculous "clouds of Glory" surrounded and hovered over them, shielding them from the dangers and discomforts of the desert. Ever since, we remember God's kindness and reaffirm our trust in His providence by dwelling in a sukkah--a hut of temporary construction with a roof covering of branches--for the duration of the Sukkot Festival (on the Jewish calendar Tishrei 15-21). For seven days and nights, we are to eat all our meals in the sukkah and otherwise regard it as our home.

Sukkot is also called The Time of Our Joy; indeed, a special joy pervades the festival. People fill the synagogues and streets with song, music, and dance until the wee hours of the morning.

This time also represents our becoming one flesh with God (through Jesus Christ/Yeshua our Messiah) and is a "dress rehearsal" for the wedding feast when Jesus comes back for his bride!

Sukkot Blessing (in traditional Hebrew, Transliteration, and English Translation.)

Blessing for dwelling in the Sukkah

Baruch ata Adonai Elohanu melech ha-olam asher kedshanu b'mitsvotav vetsevanu leisheiv ba-sukkah. Blessed are you Adonai, king of the universe who has sanctified us with your commandments and commanded us to dwell in the sukkah.

This is how we celebrated Sukkot in our home today. We did this instead of our traditional workbooks for homeschool. Hannah was glad for the break!


Our Sukkah:

 Inside the Sukkah:

Crafts we did to decorate:

Hannah relaxing and enjoying her homeschool day:

Caleb having a blast:

Here is a good picture of a "traditional" outdoor Sukkah:





I hope you guys have enjoyed this look into our day and maybe learned something new!


To learn more about Sukkot/Tabernacles visit this website:
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/4457/jewish/How-is-Sukkot-Observed.htm

Scriptures that reference Sukkot:
Deuteronomy 16:13-15
Zechariah 14:16-17