Sukkot (Cambridge International IGCSE Religious Studies)

Sukkot as a celebration

What is the festival of Sukkot?

• Sukkot (also known as the Festival of Tabernacles or Booths) is a festival celebrated by Jewish people around the world

• The festival:

  • Reminds Jews to be thankful for the things they have
  • Lasts for seven days in Israel and eight days outside Israel
  • Is a harvest festival
  • Is a time to remember the Israelites’ time in the wilderness after the Exodus, when Moses led them out of slavery in Egypt

• People celebrate Sukkot at home and at a synagogue with family and friends

• There is a large meal at the end

• Sukkot involves many religious practices that contain symbolic meaning

• The festival ends with a special service at the synagogue

  • During the service, people pray and hit the ground with sticks of willow leaves five times to get rid of any bad luck or sin

• The service is followed by a celebratory meal for family and friends

The significance of building & using a sukkah

• Many people celebrate Sukkot by building a sukkah
• A sukkah is a temporary hut that has a roof made of plants and leaves

• Families spend time in the sukkah during the Sukkot festival

  • The sukkah reminds Jewish people of the temporary homes made by Moses and the Israelites during their 40 years of wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt
  • Spending time in the sukkah is also a way for Jews to **honour **their ancestors
  • The sukkah**** must be unstable enough to remind people of the fragility of life and **dependence **on G-d
  • During the festival, families** eat meals** inside the sukkah
  • Some people choose to sleep in it as well

What is the significance of waving the lulav?

What are the Four Species?

• Sukkot also involves the **Four Species **(Arba Minim)

• The Four Species are a citrus fruit called an** etrog**(which is a bit like a lemon) and a lulav

• The lulav is a palm branch, but during Sukkot, it refers to a bundle of three plants:

  • Palm branch(lulav)
  • Myrtle(hadass)
  • Willow (aravah)

• The Four Species are waved each day of Sukkot (except Shabbat)

Why are the Four Species waved?

• The lulav is a reminder of G-d’s presence everywhere

  • The lulav is waved in six directions: north, south, east, west, up and down
  • This symbolises that G-d is present all around and rules over the whole world

• The lulav also demonstrates the unity of the Jewish people, as each plant represents different aspects of the Jewish people:

  • Etrog (taste and smell): Jews who study the Torah and do good deeds
  • Lulav (taste only): those with learning but not deeds
  • Hadass (smell only): those who do good but do not study
  • Aravah (neither): those who lack both

The Lulav

• Waving the lulav also represents the Jewish people giving thanks for the autumn harvest

  • It is a form of praise and prayer to G-d for providing food and sustenance

The religious reasons for observing Sukkot

• There are many religious reasons why Jews observe Sukkot
• Waving the Four Species is fulfilling a Mitzvah (commandment) from the Torah

blockquote “And you shall take ... the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows ... and rejoice before the Lord your G-d” (Leviticus 23:40)

• Sukkot also remembers the wilderness journey of the Israelites

  • During this time, they lived in temporary shelters, protected by G-d

blockquote “You shall live in booths for seven days … so your generations may know that I made the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 23:42–43)

• It is a time to thank G-d for the harvest

• Sukkot is also a time when Jewish people demonstrate trust in G-d

  • Living in a fragile sukkah reminds Jews to rely on G-d for protection, not material things

The social reasons for observing Sukkot

• Sukkot also has social significance. It can strengthen family bonds, community life and a sense of shared identity

• During the festival, families build, decorate and eat meals together in the sukkah

  • Many families invite friends and guests, creating a joyful and welcoming atmosphere
  • This helps to strengthen family traditions and memories across generations

• Welcoming other people into the sukkah is a mitzvah(good deed)

• This includes symbolically welcoming the seven biblical guests who are regarded as the leaders of the Jewish people:

  • Abraham
  • Isaac
  • Jacob
  • Moses
  • Aaron
  • Joseph
  • David

• Sukkot can strengthen community ties

  • Synagogues and Jewish communities hold communal meals, events and services
  • Everyone shares in the celebration, which builds unity and belonging

• The event helps to educate children about Jewish history and traditions

  • Children help with building and decorating the sukkah
  • The experience teaches Jewish values and practices in an enjoyable and sociable way

• It also helps Jews to celebrate a shared identity

  • Jews around the world celebrate Sukkot at the same time, in similar ways
  • This helps to reinforce a global sense of community and continuity of tradition

Different ways Sukkot is observed within Judaism

Spec point — J4.4f

• All Jews celebrate Sukkot, but there may be some differences in the ways in which it is celebrated between denominations

Orthodox Judaism and Sukkot

• Orthodox Jews follow halakhah(Jewish law) very strictly and so show complete obedience to the Torah laws and traditional practices

  • This involves building a kosher sukkah at home or in the community and eating all meals there
  • Some also sleep in the sukkah (weather permitting)
  • During Sukkot, they use all Four Species (lulav, etrog, hadass, aravah) daily (except Shabbat)
  • Prayers are mostly in Hebrew, with full synagogue services throughout the week

Reform Judaism and Sukkot

• Reform Jews still observe Sukkot but often with more flexibility

  • They may build a sukkah and eat meals in it, but not everyone will sleep there
  • Some may use the Four Species, while others may focus more on the symbolism
  • Services may be shorter and include more English than Hebrew
  • There may be a greater focus on the ethical themes of the festival, such as gratitude and protection

Worked Example Give two reasons why Jews observe Sukkot

[2 marks]

Final answer: Answer:

To give thanks to G-d for providing food and protection [1]

To remember the 40 years that the Jews spent in the wilderness [1]

Exam Hint Understand the key concepts: Master the historical background, symbolism and ritual practices associated with Sukkot

Use evidence: Refer to specific examples from the Torah, the Hebrew Bible or Jewish traditions to support your answers

Organise your answer: Structure your answer logically, using headings and subheadings to present your points clearly

Practice: Review past exam questions and practice answering them to familiarise yourself with the exam format and style