Sukkot (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

What is the festival of Sukkot?

• Sukkot (also known as the Festival of Tabernacles or Booths) is a festival celebrated by Jewish people around the world

• The festival:

  • Reminds Jews to be thankful for the things they have

  • Lasts for seven days in Israel and eight days outside Israel

  • Is a harvest festival

  • Is a time to remember the Israelites’ time in the wilderness after the Exodus, when Moses led them out of slavery in Egypt 

• People celebrate Sukkot at home and at a synagogue with family and friends

• There is a large meal at the end

• Sukkot involves many religious practices that contain symbolic meaning

• The festival ends with a special service at the synagogue

  • During the service, people pray and hit the ground with sticks of willow leaves five times to get rid of any bad luck or sin

• The service is followed by a celebratory meal for family and friends

The significance of building & using a sukkah

• Many people celebrate Sukkot by building a sukkah 

• A sukkah is a temporary hut that has a roof made of plants and leaves

• Families spend time in the sukkah during the Sukkot festival

  • The sukkah reminds Jewish people of the temporary homes made by Moses and the Israelites during their 40 years of wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt

  • Spending time in the sukkah is also a way for Jews to honour their ancestors

  • The sukkah must be unstable enough to remind people of the fragility of life and dependence on G-d

  • During the festival, families eat meals inside the sukkah 

  • Some people choose to sleep in it as well

What are the Four Species?

• Sukkot also involves the Four Species (Arba Minim)

• The Four Species are a citrus fruit called an etrog (which is a bit like a lemon) and a lulav

• The lulav is a palm branch, but during Sukkot, it refers to a bundle of three plants:

  • Palm branch (lulav)

  • Myrtle (hadass)

  • Willow (aravah)

• The Four Species are waved each day of Sukkot (except Shabbat)

Why are the Four Species waved?

• The lulav is a reminder of G-d’s presence everywhere

  • The lulav is waved in six directions: north, south, east, west, up and down

  • This symbolises that G-d is present all around and rules over the whole world

• The lulav also demonstrates the unity of the Jewish people, as each plant represents different aspects of the Jewish people:

  • Etrog (taste and smell): Jews who study the Torah and do good deeds

  • Lulav (taste only): those with learning but not deeds

  • Hadass (smell only): those who do good but do not study

  • Aravah (neither): those who lack both

• Waving the lulav also represents the Jewish people giving thanks for the autumn harvest

  • It is a form of praise and prayer to G-d for providing food and sustenance

The religious reasons for observing Sukkot

• There are many religious reasons why Jews observe Sukkot

• Waving the Four Species is fulfilling a Mitzvah (commandment) from the Torah

• Sukkot also remembers the wilderness journey of the Israelites 

  • During this time, they lived in temporary shelters, protected by G-d

• It is a time to thank G-d for the harvest

• Sukkot is also a time when Jewish people demonstrate trust in G-d

  • Living in a fragile sukkah reminds Jews to rely on G-d for protection, not material things

The social reasons for observing Sukkot

• Sukkot also has social significance. It can strengthen family bonds, community life and a sense of shared identity

• During the festival, families build, decorate and eat meals together in the sukkah

  • Many families invite friends and guests, creating a joyful and welcoming atmosphere

  • This helps to strengthen family traditions and memories across generations

• Welcoming other people into the sukkah is a mitzvah (good deed) 

• This includes symbolically welcoming the seven biblical guests who are regarded as the leaders of the Jewish people: 

  • Abraham

  • Isaac

  • Jacob

  • Moses

  • Aaron 

  • Joseph

  • David

• Sukkot can strengthen community ties

  • Synagogues and Jewish communities hold communal meals, events and services

  • Everyone shares in the celebration, which builds unity and belonging

• The event helps to educate children about Jewish history and traditions

  • Children help with building and decorating the sukkah

  • The experience teaches Jewish values and practices in an enjoyable and sociable way

• It also helps Jews to celebrate a shared identity

  • Jews around the world celebrate Sukkot at the same time, in similar ways

  • This helps to reinforce a global sense of community and continuity of tradition

Different ways Sukkot is observed within Judaism

• All Jews celebrate Sukkot, but there may be some differences in the ways in which it is celebrated between denominations

Orthodox Judaism and Sukkot

• Orthodox Jews follow halakhah (Jewish law) very strictly and so show complete obedience to the Torah laws and traditional practices

  • This involves building a kosher sukkah at home or in the community and eating all meals there

  • Some also sleep in the sukkah (weather permitting)

  • During Sukkot, they use all Four Species (lulav, etrog, hadass, aravah) daily (except Shabbat)

  • Prayers are mostly in Hebrew, with full synagogue services throughout the week

Reform Judaism and Sukkot

• Reform Jews still observe Sukkot but often with more flexibility

  • They may build a sukkah and eat meals in it, but not everyone will sleep there

  • Some may use the Four Species, while others may focus more on the symbolism

  • Services may be shorter and include more English than Hebrew

  • There may be a greater focus on the ethical themes of the festival, such as gratitude and protection