Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) Purpose. Sukkot commemorates the wanderings of the Children of Israel in the Wilderness when they dwelt in huts or booths (Sukkah = booth; Leviticus 23:34). Occurring in the autumn, during the time of the last fruit harvest, Sukkot is also observed as a thanksgiving holiday for the bounties of nature during the previous year. Date. The Festival has nine days (eight in Israel) and begins on the 15th Tishri. In addition to the first two days there are four intervening days known as Chol Hamo'ed - "weekdays of the Festival." There are three further days, with characteristics of their own making a combined nine-day festival period outside Israel, with one day less in Israel. Names Chag Hasukkot - "Festival of Booths" (Levit. 23: 34) Chag Ha'asif - "Festival of the Ingathering" (Exod. 23: I6; 34: 22) Zeman Simchateinu - The Season of our Rejoicing (Deut. 16:14) Chag - "The Feast" The first days are called Sukkot. The seventh day is called Hoshana Rabbah-"The Great Hoshana." The eighth day is called Shemimi Atzeret - "The Feast of the Eighth day" or "the Eighth Day of Solemn Assembly." The ninth day is called Simchat Torah - "Rejoicing of the Law. (In the Diaspora, this day is really the second day of Shemini Atzeret, but in Israel its celebration is joined with the observances of the eighth day). Observances The Sukkah. The Sukkah is a temporary structure especially built either in the yard, in the garden, or on the roof of the house. It is not covered from above with board but with detached branches so that the sky may be seen. The insubstantial nature of the physical structure symbolizes more clearly the dependence of man on God's protection. The historical significance of the Sukkah serves as a reminder of the booths or temporary dwellings in which Israel dwelt throughout its momentous journey in the wilderness. It is customary for pious Jews to drive in the first nail or stake for the erection of the Sukkah at the end of the Day of Atonement, and in this way the Jew indicates that his life is taken up with the continuous performance of religious acts. The candles are lit in the Sukkah, the Kiddush is recited, and meals during the Festival are eaten there. The Four Species. During the Festival, four kinds of plants - the Arba Minim - are used in accordance with the biblical command "to rejoice before the Lord" - (I) Lulav - Palm branch. (II) Hadassim - Three myrtle twigs. (III) Aravot - Two willow branches (IV) Etrog - Citron. Lulav is the word applied, for short, to all four species that are arranged in a bouquet. The lulav is used on the first seven days (except for the Sabbath). The appropriate blessing on the lulav is said at home or in the synagogue during the first seven days of the Festival. Because the festive branch indicates "gladness," it is waved in the service during the chanting of the Hallel prayers. The lulav is waved in all directions - east, south, west, and north, upwards and downwards, as an acknowledgment of God's sovereignty over the entire universe. Hakafot - Processional "circuits." During the service in the synagogue, congregants make processional circuits round the reading desk (bimah), while Hoshanot (prayers for intercession) are chanted, as in the Temple. The word hoshanah means "Save…!" and indicates the character of these public petitions to God.