Fall
Sukkot סוכות
A harvest festival you celebrate in a hut.
When it falls next
- Diaspora: from October 1, 2026; last day October 2, 2026
- Israel: from October 1, 2026; last day October 2, 2026
Torah readings
- Sukkot VI (CH’’M): Numbers 29:26-34
- Sukkot VII (Hoshana Raba): Numbers 29:26-34
Seven days in a booth
Leviticus 23:39-43
אַךְ בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר יוֹם לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי בְּאָסְפְּכֶם אֶת־תְּבוּאַת הָאָרֶץ תָּחֹגּוּ אֶת־חַג־יְהוָה שִׁבְעַת יָמִים בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן שַׁבָּתוֹן וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי שַׁבָּתוֹן׃
23:39 Howbeit on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruits of the land, ye shall keep the feast of the LORD seven days; on the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest.
וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר כַּפֹּת תְּמָרִים וַעֲנַף עֵץ־עָבֹת וְעַרְבֵי־נָחַל וּשְׂמַחְתֶּם לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם שִׁבְעַת יָמִים׃
23:40 And ye shall take you on the first day the fruit of goodly trees, branches of palm-trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook, and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.
וְחַגֹּתֶם אֹתוֹ חַג לַיהוָה שִׁבְעַת יָמִים בַּשָּׁנָה חֻקַּת עוֹלָם לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי תָּחֹגּוּ אֹתוֹ׃
23:41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year; it is a statute for ever in your generations; ye shall keep it in the seventh month.
בַּסֻּכֹּת תֵּשְׁבוּ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים כָּל־הָאֶזְרָח בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל יֵשְׁבוּ בַּסֻּכֹּת׃
23:42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are home-born in Israel shall dwell in booths;
Continues in the lesson.
JPS 1917 and Tanach with Nikkud, public domain, via Sefaria
Sukkot is a harvest festival with a twist: for a week you live (or at least eat) in a temporary hut. The Torah gives the reason in the last verse.
Take the 5-minute lessonDates and readings: Hebcal (CC BY 4.0). Jewish days begin at sundown.