Since the Exodus, "Freedom" is spoken with a Hebrew accent.
SUCCOTH - FEAST of BOOTHS
"You shall dwell in booths for seven days; all who are native Israelites shall live in booths, in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I am the LORD your GOD." [Leviticus (Vayikra) 23. 42 - 43 Tanakh, Torah]
"Succoth" - Hebrew for the Festival of the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as "Chag ha-Asif" (Feast of Ingathering). It is the Season of our Rejoicing for the Torah commandment to rejoice is mentioned more often in connection with the holy day of Succos then for any other. It is a national holiday that memorializes the journey from the land of slavery to the Promised Land. It is the custom to dwell in a Succah (booths, huts) decorated with various kinds of fruits and flowers. This symbolizes the house where you and the Almighty Creator will dwell together.
There are nine traditional fruits that are hung in the Succah, symbolizing nine characteristics and attributes of the Holy ONE that He wants us to have in our lives. The nine fruits or vegetables include pomegranates, figs, dates, oranges, apples, grapes, pumpkins, etrog (citron, lemon) and the fruit from locust tree (a chocolate-type fruit). The nine FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT are symbolized by the nine fruits hanging in the Succos. "The FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." [Galatians 5. 22 - 23] There is a correlation between the two.
Succos is indeed a time of rejoicing, following closely after Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (forgiveness). Succos begins on the fifteenth day of Tishri, at the time of the ingathering of the crops - a further cause for rejoicing, as one looks with a sense of humbleness knowing the Almighty One, blessed be He, has prospered and blessed the fruits of one's labour of the previous months.
The seven-day celebration of Succoth is one of the three Festivals of the LORD, when all Jewish males over the age of thirteen were commanded to come to Jerusalem to celebrate. This is called "Sholosh Regolim" – the other two Feasts are Pesach (Passover) and Shavuoth (Pentecost). Women and children joined these pilgrimages whenever possible.
Succos is celebrated for 7 days. The 8th day which follows is a Solemn Assembly known as "Shemini Atzeres" (holding back); which is also a Sabbath and a complete holiday in its own right. This speaks of the future earthly MESSIANIC KINGDOM when peace and righteousness shall rule and GOD's people will be observing the Seventh Day Sabbath during that time they are "resting in GOD" and "GOD resting in His people." Then follows the new day, the New Beginning . . . the first day of Eternity, a Sabbath forever!
Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
"Chag Sameyach" - a joyous Sukkoth (Festival of Booths) to you and yours, may they be extraordinary and richly blessed! Rabbi Del n' Rifkah
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