HOW WE CELEBRATE


Immediately upon the conclusion of Yom Kippur, we begin construction of our Sukkot (or sukkos, rhyming with "book us" if you're from the old country). The sukkah should be large enough for a family to eat and live in. The walls are made of canvas or wood, and most importantly, the entire roof is covered with schach, a covering of material that grows from the ground and has been cut from it, such as cut evergreen branches (Portland) or palm fronds (Negev desert) or bamboo sticks. The schach must be laid loosely on the roof in order to provide those within the sukkah a view of the moon, stars, and sky.
Another Biblical observance which we still perform today is to take and shake the arbat minim, or four species of plants. These include an etrog, (citron) and a lulav, which is comprised of a palm branch tied together with willow and myrtle branches. In traditional synagogues, there is a daily procession around the sanctuary with the four species in hand, while special prayers, called Hoshanot, from the phrase "save us," are recited.
Our rabbis have compared the lulav and etrog with four types of Jewish people. The etrog is compared to a person who possesses both Torah learning and good deeds. The palm tree, which has no fragrance but produces dates that taste sweet and can be eaten, is compared to Jews who possess learning but no good deeds. The myrtle, or hadas, has fragrance but no taste, and it is compared to Jews who possess good deeds but no learning. Finally, the willow has neither taste nor fragrance, and it is compared to Jews who lack both learning and good deeds. Yet, the rabbis emphasized that the presence of each of the four plants is necessary to create the four species, the lulav and etrog. And just so, every type of Jewish person is necessary to make the Jewish community whole. Each individual fulfills an essential and unique role.