| Sukkot" means "booths," and refers to the | | | | The holiday of Sukkot comes at the end of a |
| temporary dwellings that Hashem commands us | | | | month of holidays: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur. It |
| to live in during this Yom Tov ( see Vayikra, | | | | starts four days after Yom Kippur so there is not |
| Parshat Emor 23:42-43) as our ancestors, the | | | | much time to accomplish the tasks of building the |
| Bnei Yisroel wandered through the desert for | | | | Sukkah and preparing all the holiday feast. |
| forty years, living in temporary shelters. | | | | During the seven days of Sukkot, all meal are |
| A Sukkah should have four walls. The side of a | | | | served in the Sukkah, some people also sleep in it. |
| building can be considered a wall. The walls must | | | | Friends and family are invited in the sukkah. Here |
| be made from any material that will withstand an | | | | is how it is usually decorated. |
| ordinary wind. A commonly used material is | | | | The roof remains open to see the stars. It is |
| canvas, tied or nailed down so that it does not | | | | covered with bamboo, tree branches, palm |
| flap in the wind. The area of the Sukkah can be | | | | branches.The walls are decorated with garlands |
| any size, so long as it is large enough to fulfill the | | | | and party lights and/or tapestries, children's art |
| Mitzvah of dwelling in it. | | | | work. |
| It is customary to bring food and gift baskets | | | | There is no limit to the imagination for decorating |
| when invited to a sukkah, for sample of gift- | | | | a Sukkah, the result is always magical and very |
| baskets for this occasion, see: | | | | rewarding. |
| Sukkot begins at sundown of the 14th day of | | | | Home-made decorations should remain simple, |
| Tishrei, five days after Yom Kippur. | | | | easy and water-resistant in case of rain. Children |
| Happy Sukkot! | | | | are always delighted to help decorate the Sukkah. |