Sukkot (Day 7) / Hoshanah Rabah in State of Israel

When did the Sukkot (Day 7) / Hoshanah Rabah in State of Israel start?

The first recorded date of Sukkot (Day 7) / Hoshanah Rabah in State of Israel being celebrated on October 13 was in the year 1948.

About Sukkot (Day 7) / Hoshanah Rabah in State of Israel Holiday

The state of Israel is abuzz with anticipation of the seventh day of Sukkot, known as Hoshanah Rabbah. This day marks the culmination of the five-day period of Sukkot, during which it is a tradition to build and dwell in a Sukkah, or a fragile temporary dwelling. On this day, the seventh day of Sukkot, special prayers are recited and people gather together to chant the seven Hoshanot – a call for divine protection. As the sun sets and the night draws in, the sounds of joyous singing and harmonizing will reverberate throughout the lands of Israel as people prepare for the festive celebration of Hoshanah Rabbah.

An integral part of the Hoshanah Rabbah celebration is the ceremony of waving the “Four Species”– lulav, hadass, aravah, and etrog. During this ceremony, people recite a special prayer to evoke God’s protection over their families, Israel, and all humanity. Afterward, four seven-circuit processions are made around the synagogue, while holding the four species and chanting aloud another special prayer. This ritual symbolizes the optimism and joy of the beginning of a New Year.

Besides merriment and religious ceremonies, Hoshanah Rabbah is also a time of reflection and spiritual growth. We dedicate ourselves to making this a time of peace and a time for moving closer to the divine. We are reminded of our connection to something greater than our individual self and to something that is timeless and knows no bounds. We can never lose sight of our divine potential and the great potential within each and every one of us. As we prepare to usher in the New Year, let us do it with joyous celebration and a spirit of reflection.

Sukkot (Day 7) / Hoshanah Rabah in the State of Israel

History and Origin

Sukkot, commonly referred to as ‘the Feast of Tabernacles’, is an important pilgrimage festival in the State of Israel, celebrated by Jewish people from all around the world. It is regarded as one of the three key festivals, along with Passover and Shavuot. Sukkot has its origins in the Bible and is mentioned in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) on multiple occasions.

The celebration of ‘the Feast of Tabernacles’ usually begins with the festival of Rosh Hashanah and lasts for seven days. It also includes a full seven days of Aramaic prayer, known as ‘Hoshanah Rabah’. According to the Book of Deuteronomy 16:13-15, it is a reminder of God’s provision in ancient times when the Jewish people lived in temporary mountain dwellings. Thus, part of the celebration involves sleeping in a special hut, or sukkah, for seven days, so that present generations can have an opportunity to remember their ancestors’ lives and the hardships they had to face.

The ritual observance also includes waving four-species, which is a combination of a palm branch, a twig of citrus, a sprig of myrtle, and a twig of willow. This ritual is the symbolic representation of God’s farming holiday blessing and is a reminder of the spiritual connection to nature, past generations, and the present.

Sukkot is considered to be one of the most important Jewish festivals and is deeply connected to the spiritual history of Jewish people over the years. It is also a symbol of Jewish identity and represents a time for peace, reconciliation, rejoicing, and above all, celebration.

Significance and Meaning

The celebration of Sukkot has a deep spiritual significance to the people of Israel. During this time, the Jewish community comes together and celebrates with shared joy and love, with the aim of sustaining the precious bond that exists between all of them. Since the Bible speaks of Sukkot as a time of joy and thanksgiving, the festival has been esteemed as a significant event that unites the entire Jewish community and encourages peace and understanding.

It is believed that during this festival, the spirit of God descends and brings inspiration to the Jewish people, leading to a collective awakening that encourages them to focus on themselves and reflect on the divine. Sukkot is also seen as a reminder of the fall harvest, a time of thanksgiving, when Jews give thanks for all of God’s blessings, such as rain and abundance of food.

Traditions and Celebrations

In celebration of Sukkot, the Jewish people build decorative sukkah, which are booths made of branches, wood, and cloth. These shelters are decorated with brightly colored paper, flowers, and fruits and it is a tradition for family members to gather in them for meals.

It is also customary to share meals with relatives and friends during Sukkot. Special kinds of food are served to honor the festival, such as fruits, vegetables, and small pastries. The most popular food for the festival is the ‘lulav’, which is a mix of myrtle, willow, and date palms, and known to be a symbol of God’s provision.

Traditional Sukkot services are held in the synagogue, where prayers sung in Aramaic are read from the Torah. A communal meal is typically eaten after the service, which often consists of traditional Jewish dishes, such as the sheep’s head and sheep’s stomach, which is known as the ‘shelamim’.

On Hoshana-Rabah, the seventh day of the festival, special observances take place in the synagogue. During this day, the four-species are waved around the synagogue in a specific pattern, representing the increasing bounty of the harvest. After the waving, a special ceremony is conducted with prayers, hymns, and a priestly blessing.

Geographical Spread

The State of Israel is home to a large population of Jewish people, and consequently Sukkot (Day 7) / Hoshanah Rabah is widely celebrated here. But the cultural significance of this festival is not only confined to Israel. It is celebrated in many countries, especially in North America, Europe, and South America. In some countries, such as Japan and China, Sukkot is celebrated by a small but growing Jewish population.

The exact way in which the festival is celebrated depends on the local cultural context. In some places it is only celebrated for a single day, while in others it may be celebrated for a longer period of time. In some countries, it is observed strictly according to the traditions and customs of the Jewish faith, while in others it is observed with variations and may include other festive activities, such as parades and music. However, regardless of the region or culture, Sukkot (Day 7) / Hoshanah Rabah is always celebrated in gratitude and with reverence.

Modern Day Observations

Modern day observances of Sukkot (Day 7) / Hoshanah Rabah have retained much of the customs and traditions of the past. The festival is still commemorated by building decorative sukkah and observing the four-species ritual. However, it is now becoming increasingly common to see more contemporary elements, such as electronic decorations, or new types of food, being integrated into the celebration.

The use of technology is also becoming ever more prevalent, with multimedia sukkahs being created and mobile applications being developed to make it easier to stay informed and connected with the Jewish community.

Interesting Facts or Trivia

• Sukkot is one of the three major holidays of the year, the other two being Passover and Shavuot.
• The four-species ritual is a reminder of the importance of the farming season and of the connection between man and nature.
• It is believed that during this time, the spirit of God descends and leads to a collective spiritual awakening among the people.
• Today it is still traditional to build a sukkah as a symbol of the temporary mountain dwellings described in the Bible.
• The food served during the festival is based on local ingredients of the region it is being celebrated in.
• During the seventh day of the festival, special observances take place and the four-species are waved around the synagogue in a special pattern.
• In some countries, Sukkot is celebrated for a single day, while in others it may be celebrated for a longer period of time.
• Modern day observances often include the integration of contemporary elements such as electronic decorations and new types of food.
• Mobile applications have been developed to make it easier to stay informed and connected with the Jewish community.

Holiday Wishes

1. Wishing you peace, joy, and happiness during Sukkot.
2. Wishing you blessings of health and prosperity during Sukkot.
3. May the spirit of Sukkot bring peace and hope to you and your family.
4. May the blessing of Sukkot remind us of the connection to nature and the divine.
5. May the festival of Sukkot bring warmth and joy into your home.

Holiday Messages

1. Let us celebrate Sukkot with gratitude for the blessings we have.
2. Sukkot is a time to rebuild our faith and strengthen our bond with one another.
3. May Sukkot be a time of joy and discovery, to explore the depths of the divine.
4. Let us remember the lessons of Sukkot, to appreciate the abundance in life.
5. Let us give thanks for the blessings of nature and of our ancestors during Sukkot.

Holiday Quotes

1. “The Lord God commanded the celebration of Sukkot, He appointed joy, ancestral memory, thanksgiving and praise.” – Babylonian Talmud
2. “Sukkot is a festival of joy and thanksgiving.” – Ruth Catherine Wertheimer
3. “On Sukkot, we symbolically invite the spirit of God close to us.” – Mordecai M. Kaplan
4. “During Sukkot, we remember that no matter where we are, blessings of hope and joy will come with faith and understanding.” – Dan Cederholm
5. “Sukkot is a time to rejoice and be thankful for the many blessings we have in our lives.” – Nicole Braun

Other Popular Holiday Info

In addition to the traditional observances of Sukkot (Day 7) / Hoshanah Rabah, the holiday has also come to represent a time of unity and celebration in the State of Israel. The Jewish community comes together during this time to enjoy music, dancing, feasting, and the exchange of gifts. In recent years, large-scale, open-air events have become increasingly popular, including concerts featuring renowned performers from around the world, as well as parades, picnics, kite-flying, and much more.

Sukkot is also used as a powerful symbol to encourage people to act more responsibly with the environment. As the festival is strongly linked to nature, it makes it easier for people connect to their environment and thus become more aware of the pressing issues of sustainable development.

Lastly, Sukkot is also a way to honor the lives of those who have passed away. On the final day of the festival, special prayers in memory of the deceased are held in the synagogue, which is followed by the gravesite visit to express respects and give thanks for the memories created during the lives of their loved ones.

Sukkot is a festival steeped in tradition and symbolic of renewal, hope, and faith. It is a time to give thanks and to remember those who have come before us. May Sukkot always be a source of joy and peace to all.

Sukkot (Day 7) / Hoshanah Rabah in State of Israel Also Called
Shemini Atzeret
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FUN FACT:
In year 1948, Sukkot (Day 7) / Hoshanah Rabah in State of Israel is celebrated on October 13 for the first time.

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