What Is the Feast of Booths?

The Jewish holiday called Sukkot, which lasts for seven days, started on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. Unlike the two Jewish holidays right before it (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur), Sukkot, known as the Feast of Booths, actually belongs not only to Jews, but to everyone. Prophet Zachariah who lived during the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem around 520 to 470 BC, wrote the following:

“All who survive of all those nations that came up against Jerusalem shall make a pilgrimage year by year to bow low to the King Lord of Hosts and to observe the Feast of Booth.” Zachariah 14:16.

Another name of the holiday “Feast of Tabernacle”, comes from the Torah as the remembrance of Israelites who wandered through the desert for forty years. It is also a celebration of the end of the harvest, and many Jews decorate the Sukkah booth with fruits and flowers.

Sukkot has other significance, as well. On this holiday we fervently pray for the rain and the dew. In the book “The Seven Lights” I read: “Rain is perceived as a response to men’s need and activities. Man does what he has to do, and then the rain makes his work flourish, whereas dew is a spontaneous gift of God.” All of us need this blessing, this is why starting from Sukkot until Passover (which is in Spring) special daily prayer is added “You cause the wind to blow and the rain to fall.”

Since all people of all beliefs and religions need rain, we all have an opportunity to pray together.

In today’s story, I’m sharing with you my poem “The Rain”, which is included in my latest book, “42 Encounters with Illumination”, as well as three images, which I captured in the rain.

THE RAIN

When rain falls
It consists of many droplets.
If you could stop them,
They would all look the same.
But do they?
Like a group of people
From far away they look the same.
But do they?
Each drop represents
The place they came from.
From the mighty ocean,
Or from the quietly moving river,
Or from the murky dump,
Or from the melting snow.
Same with us, the humans.
The rain brings to our lives awareness
Of who we truly are,
And what is the source
Of being human.

“42 Encounters with Illumination” can be a great gift for anyone you care about. So, don’t hesitate to order the book on Amazon.

Enjoy and share with a friend!