Sukkot, which is commonly referred to as the Feast of Tabernacles, is a seven-night festival that commemorates the Israelites journey in the desert…
It is one of the three pilgrim feasts when all Jewish men were required to journey to Jerusalem and bring an offering to the Lord. During this weeklong celebration, families commemorate this time by building and dwelling in temporary shelters as their ancestors would have done in the wilderness. These shelters, or booths, remind us of God’s protection and provision.
This year Sukkot begins on the evening of October 16th and concludes on the evening of October 23rd.
Have you considered building a sukkah at your home?
A sukkah is generally a cube or rectangle and will have 3 or 4 walls (or even 2.5 walls). It can either be freestanding, or you can use the exterior wall of a house or garage. The walls can be made of plywood or cloth—allowing space for a door of course. The roof is to be of an organic material and should allow spacing for the stars to shine through—meaning it should not be a solid covering.
An open roof is a sign of trusting in God’s provision and protection!
According to MyJewishLearning.com you can build a 7-foot cube sukkah with the following materials:
- 12 cement blocks
- 4 pieces of 2″ x 2″ x 7-1/2′
- 7 pieces of 1″ x 2″ x 7-1/2′
- 8 pieces of 1″ x 1″ x 8′ (crosspieces)
- enough cloth or plywood to cover 3 walls
- cloth drape for entrance wall
- nails
- binding twine
- greens for roofing
Stack 3 cement blocks in each corner and insert 7-foot 2 x 4’s into the air holes of the blocks. Connect the 2 x 4’s with 1x 2’s across the middle and the top. Stretch cloth (or nail l/4-inch plywood) over the frame and one wall is complete. One wall can serve as the entrance if covered with cloth on a wire track. Place some 1 x 1’s running in both directions on the roof and cover that with rushes or pine boughs.
Building a sukkah and dining outside with your family and friends during this special week is a beautiful way to fellowship with one another and enjoy the blessings of God’s goodness! It is a time to stop, reflect, and take a moment to focus on what really matters—and often you will find what really matters are those who visit your sukkah and tabernacle with you.
So, from all of us at My Olive Tree, we encourage you to build a sukkah with your family this year—your children will love this new tradition and you will cherish the memories!
Chag Sameach! (Happy Holidays!)
