Why Jews spend a week in fragile, open-roofed huts every autumn

Cultures · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Sukkot is a seven-day festival that blends an ancient agricultural harvest celebration with a commemoration of the Israelites' desert journey. By moving from permanent homes into temporary, plant-covered huts called sukkahs, participants intentionally embrace fragility to reflect on their dependence on the natural environment and divine protection.

Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Booths, begins on the 15th day of Tishrei. Its dual nature is rooted in both the agricultural cycle and religious history. Biblically, it marks the 'Festival of Ingathering' at the end of the harvest year. Simultaneously, it commemorates the 40-year period when Israelites lived in temporary shelters during their exodus from Egypt. By residing in a sukkah—a structure with at least three walls and a roof made of organic material like palm fronds—families are reminded of the precariousness of life and their reliance on God, especially after the harvest is safely stored.

The festival is defined by the 'Four Species': the etrog (citron), lulav (palm branch), hadas (myrtle), and aravah (willow). These are shaken in a specific ceremony to symbolize the unity of a diverse community, representing different levels of knowledge and good deeds. This theme of integration is furthered by the custom of ushpizin, where seven 'exalted guests'—traditionally the forefathers Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph, and David—are symbolically invited into the sukkah. Some modern traditions also include seven female figures, such as Sarah, Miriam, and Deborah, to reflect this inclusive spirit.

Historically, the most joyous event of the season was the Simchat Beit HaShoeivah, or 'Celebration of the House of Drawing Water,' held at the Temple in Jerusalem. It featured music, acrobatics, and the juggling of flaming torches by sages like Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel. While the Temple's destruction ended the original ritual, the celebration was revived in 1980 by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Brooklyn, sparking a modern movement of street dancing and song. Today, the festival concludes with Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, marking the transition from the temporary outdoor dwelling back to the permanent home.

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