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UPPING YOUR KNOWLEDGE
The Hidden Gem Called “Sukkot”
It’s my favorite Jewish holiday, and here’s why
We’ve just finished observing the two Jewish holidays people seem to know most: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Both holidays are very serious, as we reflect on ourselves and the year ahead, and we ask how we can become better people. We repent, asking God for forgiveness as we pray and sing for many hours.
On Yom Kippur, the most serious of holidays, when the figurative gates close on how God views our year and our plea, we fast. The act of fasting means different things to different people. My husband, who leads the prayers, does not drink a thing. I, on the other hand, have two cups of tea — one in the morning and one late in the day, to stave off the dehydration headache so that I can be fully present at the synagogue.
But in the challenging hours where you might be inclined to feel that you’ve had enough chest beating and seriousness, where does my mind go?
To the holiday of Sukkot, which is just around the corner, and which far fewer people know anything about. As a child, I couldn’t wait for this holiday, and here’s why.
To prepare for the holiday, we observe the following practices:
