TwelveTotems.org wishes all who remember and observe a very Happy Sukkot, Chag Sukkot Sameach! Sukkot, also known as the “Feast of Booths” or “Feast of Tabernacles” is a biblical festival Yah commanded B’nei Israel to celebrate annually from the 15th to the 22nd days of Tishrei on the Hebrew calendar (Leviticus 23:33-44). The first day of the festival (15th Tishrei) is a yom tov; servile work is forbidden and B’nei Israel were commanded to have a holy convocation on the day. For seven days, all that were home-born in Israel were commanded to dwell in booths to commemorate the ancestors having to dwell in these temporary structures) after Yah brought them out of the Land of Egypt. B’nei Israel were also commanded to wave the “four species” (Leviticus 23:40) and bring burnt-offerings, meal offerings and drink offerings specific to each of the seven days. Sukkot also commemorates the ingathering of the Fall fruit harvest.

The eighth day (22nd Tishrei) of Sukkot, also known as “Shemini Atzeret,” is also yom tov, servile work is forbidden. B’nei Israel were again commanded to have a holy convocation on the eighth day. The Torah scroll is rewound to the beginning of the Book of Genesis, where the new cycle begins again. In Israel, both Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are celebrated on the eighth day (22nd Tishrei).

This year, Sukkot begins at sundown Sunday, September 23, 2018, and ends sunset Monday, October 1, 2018.