By Robert Kalfus
The Jewish holiday of Sukkot starts Monday, October 6, evening at sundown, continues for seven days, and ending at nightfall on October 13, 2025. The festival commemorates G-d sheltering our ancestors as they traveled leaving Egypt en route to the Promised Land of Israel. It is a way to give thanks and celebrate for a successful harvest, and coming after the solemn High Holidays, Sukkot is a holiday of joy and happiness. Candles are lit in the evening, and festive meals are preceded with Kiddush and challah dipped in honey, reminding us of our hopes for a good and sweet New Year. People celebrate Sukkot at home, eating in a sukkah underneath the stars, and also eating in a sukkah erected outside the synagogue with family and friends.The four species – lulav (palm branches), hadas (myrtle), arava (willow)and etrog (citron) are plants native to Israel, and are held together to bless Jewish unity. The four species represent four types of Jews, each with differing levels of Torah knowledge and observance. Bringing them together and saying the blessings represents our unity as a nation despite our seeming external differences.
