The seventh and last appointed feast listed in Leviticus 23 is the Feast of Tabernacles. (The Tabernacle which translates to “dwelling place” was the portable holy place used in Israel’s exodus from Egypt prior to the building of the temple.) This feast is more commonly know as the Feast of Booth or Sukkot (literally meaning booths). For seven days, the “native-born Israelites” are to live in temporary structures reminiscent of the housing conditions experienced during Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the desert. Each family builds one of these booths where they will eat every meal and should spend as much time as possible including sleep.
Verse 40 commands to rejoice before God using four plants which have become known as the four species. In one hand you hold the etrog (a citrus fruit like a lemon). In the other is held a bundle of three types of branches known as the lulav which literally means palm, but that is only the largest of the three. The other two are the aravot (willow) and hadassim (myrtle). Each day of Sukkot a special prayer is recited with the four species in hand. This prayer is known as Hoshanot because it’s refrain is "Hosha na!" which translates to “Please save us!”
If your sukkah could pass for a 3-star hotel:
No comments:
Post a Comment