This evening marks the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles, Sukkot. It commemorates the 40-year journey of the Jewish people through the desert after the exodus from Egypt. During this week, the sukkah, the temporary hut, is built, where meals are to be taken during the festival. Many religious Jews also sleep in the sukkah. The sukkah serves as a reminder of the simple huts in which the people of Israel lived during their time in the desert. For the sukkah, the “4 Species” are needed, which were sold in special markets even before Yom Kippur. This traditional bouquet consists of:

• The Etrog: A citrus fruit with a pleasant smell and taste. It represents Torah study and the fulfillment of commandments. There are strict guidelines for the appearance of the etrog. The closer the etrog conforms to these guidelines, the more valuable it is.
• The Lulav: A palm frond from a tree whose fruits, the dates, are odorless but have a good taste. It represents someone who may not know much or study the Torah intensely, but who lives according to its commandments. The palm frond must be straight, and the individual segments should not be too close together.
• The Myrtle Branch: Known for its pleasant smell but lack of taste, it represents someone who studies the Torah a lot but may not follow it closely. The myrtle branch should consist of three twigs, each with three leaves.
• The Willow Branch: Lacking both smell and taste, it stands for someone who neither studies the Torah nor follows its commandments. Two branches suffice here, the stem should be red, and the leaves should be narrow and long. Since the willow should always remain fresh, it is replaced several times during the week-long festival.

Jews shopping at the Four Species Market outside the Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem on October 14, 2024, ahead of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90.

Sukkot Times in Israel (local time):

• Jerusalem – Start: 17:25, End: 18:48
• Tel Aviv – Start: 17:47, End: 18:43
• Haifa – Start: 17:35, End: 18:42
• Beersheva – Start: 17:47, End: 18:44
• Eilat – Start: 17:38, End: 18:43

The editorial team at Israel Today wishes its readers a blessed Feast of Tabernacles! During the holiday, we will keep you updated on all important events via our Telegram channel.

Sukkot Sameach!