1. Succot lasts seven days. (Eight in the Diaspora.)
The eight day, called
Shemini Atzeret
, is an independent festival in its own right.
2. The command to be happy on Succot is mentioned three times:
And you shall rejoice before G-D…
Leviticus 23:4
0
And you shall rejoice on your festival.
Deuteronomy 16:14
And you shall just rej oice.
Deuteronomy 16:15
3. The Mitzvot connected with the Festival are:
-
Living in the succah (shelter);
-
The arba'ah minim (four species) - the lulav or palm branch, etrog or citron, hadass or myrtle, and aravah or willow;
-
The beating of the aravot (an independent ceremony with willow branches);
-
Korbanot - General Festival sacrifices (two types);
-
water libation;
-
Simchat Beit HaShoevah celebration relating to water;
-
Hallel.
4. Succot is the third festival in the order of the Sheloshah Regalim or Pilgrim Festivals (Pesach, Shavuot, Succot).
5. The Ushpizin: Abraham; Isaac; Jacob; Joseph; Moses; Aaron; David.
6. The Structure of the Festival:
|
Day
|
DIASPORA
|
ISRAEL
|
|
1
|
First day of Chag/Yom Tov
|
First day of Chag/Yom Tov
|
|
2
|
Second day of Chag/Yom Tov
|
Five days Chol Hamo'ed
|
|
3-6
|
Four days Chol Hamo'ed
|
|
7
|
Hoshanah Rabbah
(5th day Chol Hamo'ed)
|
Hoshanah Rabbah
(6th day Chol Hamo'ed)
|
|
8
|
Shemini Atzeret
|
Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah
|
|
9
|
Simchat Torah
|
(Not celebrated)
|
7. Water libation and
Simchat Bet HaSho'evah
:
Whoever has not seen the celebration (rejoicing) of the Bet Hashoevah has never seen rejoicing in his life!
Mishnah Succah 5:1
8. The
Hoshanot
each day, and the celebration of Hoshanah Rabbah.
|