Shalom #13

Succot/Sukkot is the Jewish festival which commemorates the wandering of the Jews in the wilderness after their Exodus from the hands of the Egyptians, when they had to dwell in makeshift booths or huts.  (Leviticus: Chapter 23:24). It is called the Feast of Tabernacles. It occurs in late September or early October and lasts one week.   It is also a joyous festival that commemorates the final gathering of the harvest and it's the time of the year in which God judges the world for the granting of rain.  The Jews build booths of wood and branches either inthe back yard, the garden or as an attachment to the house.  If they live in an apartment they might turn their balcony into a booth. They are instructed to eat their meals, entertain guests, relax, and even sleep in these huts.  They also pray and read the Torah specially the Hallel which is Psalm 113 - 118.

Since the time of Christ this has been one of the 3 annual pilgrimages to the Temple.  Even today, the Jews make the pilgrimage from all over the world to come and  march throughout Jerusalem to holy sites like the Western Wall and Mt. Hertzel (where some believe the New Temple will be built).  Anciently,  the priest would walk from the Temple to the Pool of Siloam with a gold pitcher, fill it and then walk back to the Temple and with great ceremony pour it on the holy alter symbolically representing God's gift of rain or salvation. And as was done anciently, they carry branches of olive trees, pine trees, myrtles and palms with a citron (citrus).

Early on Monday, Oct 20 we walked with some of the students and arrived at the courtyard of the Western Wall by 6:30 a.m. to watch the prayers and celebrations which bring an end to the celebration of  Sukkot. 

Prayers during Sukkot include the reading of the Torah frequently throughout each day.

Jewish men crowded together and chant their prayers which includes raising their palms, and other tree branches and citrus.

This is Citron (In this case - a lemon). This fellow who is showing us his lemon explained that to purchase a blemish free citron to be used for the Sukkot ceremony can cost between $300-500  but every 7th year is a special year when the Jews can buy blemish free for much cheaper.  He payed around $5 because it had blemishes. We told him he needed to visit Arizona where we could find some really great lemons and they would be so much cheaper!

 This is just one of the variety of  hats that Jewish men wear in Jerusalem.   Dad wanted to take a picture of that good lookin' blonde in back ground.  
Behind us you can see the large plaza at the Wailing Wall.  The huge crowd of pilgrims are praying, chanting, reading the Torah, singing and dancing and waving the Lulav which consist of the 4 species: 3 branches from different trees (eg. palm, myrtle,  pine) and  the citron.  Men and women are kept separated at the Wailling Wall by a fence.  In the courtyard, they can mingle.

Dad moved right into the crowd to get these pictures.  In the first film clip if you listen carefully you can hear them chanting the words Hosanna....which is closely akin to what we do in giving the Hosanna Shout today in our dedicatory prayers for our new Temples.  They are raising their Lulav (branches/citrus), we wave a white handkerchief.

Understanding the Jewish traditions or holidays helps to increase your understanding of the scriptures.  Read John chapter 7.  All ceremonies praise Jehovah, God of the Old Testament.

How grateful we are for latter-day revelation and the knowledge we have that Jehovah of the Old Testament is that same Jesus Christ of the New Testament!