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Jewish Holy Days

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Jewish Holy Days
Danielle K. Whitaker
REL/134
September 11, 2012
Roy Rehberg

Jewish Holy Days Every religion has holidays or moments in time that they find sacred. These sacred days are at special times each year; the main idea is to remember what made the day what it is. In this paper will we review when the holiday is celebrated, how the religion came about historically and how the religion is practiced. Sukkot is the holiday chosen for to take a closer look, one will see how it is practiced depending the various branches of Judaism (Rich, 2011).

Sukkot is one of the last three pilgrimage festivals and is significant in multiple ways: historically and agriculturally. The festival begins on the fifth after Yom Kippur; this signifies a significant change from a solemn holy day to one of much joy. The historical significance of this religion is the memorialization of the 40-year the period where the children of Israel wandered the desert and lived in temporary homes. This year Sukkot will be occurring sunset of September 30th until the 7th of October. In Leviticus 23:33 this holiday becomes instituted states that there shall be no work done on the first and second days of the holiday. When celebrating this religion there can be several ties and links to modern Christianity holidays. A sukkah is used to celebrate and is a temporary “make-shift” shelter. Afterwards each day to celebrate one must “live or reside” in the shelter, but that obligation is normally fulfilled by at least eating a meal there. The shelter also known as sukkah must have two and a half walls, then the rules are that the roof sekhakh) must be made of something natural, such as a that of a root or pieces of a tree because it must be something you could cut and must be added last. The construction of the sekhakh is complicated and the stars must be visible but the spacing may not be too wide. Once the sukkah is finally constructed decorations begin, the decorations consist of the hanging of different fall vegetables. Once decorated the set up can be reminiscent to the hanging decorations of a Christmas tree. The families who practice Judaism traditionally often hang ornaments or work of arts on the walls, but unfortunately those who have assimilated or have moved away from traditional practices often have not heard of this holiday do not realize that this what fills the void most find during the Fall/Christmas season. Not only does a sukkah remind one of autumn but also it also once fully decorated can be likened to Thanksgiving (Rich, 2011). According to Cardin and Rich, American Jews often hang dried squash and corn because of the time of year and the vegetables being readily available (2011). After everything is set up and the time has come to eat the following blessing is recited:

Every morning except for Shabbat the Four Species are taken in hand and a prayer is recited. The four species are etrog, which is a fruit originally out of Israel, a palm branch (lulav), a willow branch (arava) and a myrtle branch (hadas). In the morning the prayer is begun with the etrog in the left hand and the lulav in the right, they are brought together with the stem of the etrog being held downward, a prayer is recited: “Blessed are You,
Our God, Creator of Time and space,
Who enriches our lives with holiness,
Commanding us to take the lulav and etrog.” The four species are also apart of the Hallel prayer during ceremonies and held also while around the alter where the Torah is read each day during the holiday, this is done to replicate things similarly done at the temple in Jerusalem. Hoshanot is known as the part where the ceremony takes place, due to the fact that while the parade is being made they recite a prayer with the chorus “Hosha na!” this translate to please save us. On the seventh day seven circuits are made and is known as Hoshanah Rabbah. The celebration of the agricultural part can be seen in the ceremony after the circuits take place where the willow branches are beat upon the floor five times in representation of autumn. Rain in Israel begins during the fall season, which represents the want for beneficial rainfall. According to Rich, the four species represent different parts of the body and different kinds of Jews. These are brought together during the holiday to remind those that for the interpretation concerning the body to remind them that though there is a potential for sin the combination should be used for obeying the commandments. The second interpretation is to remind everyone that no matter the differences of the Jews that they are all imported and must be united. Sukkot is a holiday that combines the unity of family time and thankfulness found when celebrating Christmas. The practices involving the building of the sukkah services as a reminder of all things from the past and the celebrations and preparations that take place up until this holidays completion remind one of unity and thankfulness. The living as the ancestors did during the 40-year displacement reminds one that though how the Islamic belief is practiced and no matter the difference to remain united and humbled by giving thanks.

Reference
Rich, T. R. (2011). Judaism 101: Sukkot. Retrieved from http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday5.htm
Cardin, R. N. B., & Rich, T. R. (2011). Jewish virtual library. Retrieved from http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holiday5.html

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