Union of Jewish Students
THE UNION OF JEWISH STUDENTS
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Sukkot
The holiday commemorates the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters.
Sukkot (Tabernacles) has a dual significance: historical and agricultural. The holiday commemorates the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters. Sukkot is also a harvest festival, and is sometimes referred to as Chag Ha-Asif, the Festival of Ingathering.
One of the many customs is to invite Ushpizin, symbolic guests, each day to the Sukkah.The guests include Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron and King David. Some more progressive Jewish communities have also taken the egalitarian step to also invite ushpizot, female biblical guests into the sukkah. The Talmud (Megilla 14a) tells us that the 7 prophetesses were: Sarah, Miriam, Devorah, Hannah, Avigail, Huldah, and Esther.
Given that the Sukkah reminds us of the temporary dwelling of the Jewish people before they made there way to their homeland, The Land of Israel, it is appropriate that we think about all of the people in our community who have, no home, no shelter, no plac to live.