Sukkot is a major Jewish festival that takes place in autumn. It is both a celebration of the gathering of the harvest and a commemoration of the forty-year duration in which the children of Israel wandered through the desert following the Exodus from Egypt.
During this period, Israelites took shelter in temporary dwellings, which is why Jews live and eat in traditional huts called Sukkahs during this holiday. Sukkot is a great time to get together with family and honor old traditions. Here are a few ways you can celebrate this week-long festival in style.
Go All Out with a Sukkot Vacation
Instead of being cooped up at home while trying to cater for visiting family, why not travel to a Sukkot vacation destination instead? Spending this major holiday at a hotel will give the entire family a chance to relax. Leisure Time Tours Kosher Vacations offers various Sukkot activities, such as swimming, sightseeing, shopping, and golfing.
There are even discussion sessions and lectures for those who enjoy learning about their religion. At their luxurious hotels in Prague and Forte Dei Marmi, you don’t have to worry about preparing, cooking, and cleaning. Everyone can just sit back and enjoy delicious kosher meals made from the local produce. So, get your immediate and extended family together to celebrate Sukkot in style.
Celebrate in Israel
Sukkot is a seven-day holiday that takes place in the autumn months, which makes it a great festival to spend abroad. For those who want a more authentic experience, spending Sukkot in the Holy Land might be the ideal choice for you. In Israel, you can immerse yourself in the culture and spend some of your time in one of the many traditional Sukkahs.
Visiting the Western Wall is another popular activity during this pilgrimage festival. Furthermore, Sukkot is one of the best times of the year to visit Israel due to the pleasant weather. So, make the most of your stay, explore the land, and discover the beauty of Israel.
Create Your Own Sukkah
Those who plan to spend Sukkot at home can still celebrate this wonderful holiday in style by creating a traditional sukkah in their backyard. The traditional hut should be sturdy, strong, and durable enough to last the entire week. Sukkahs were traditionally a place to dine and reside in during Sukkot. Once created, you can invite family and friends to spend time together in your homemade sukkah.
Celebratory Activities
During the intermediate days, you can plan celebratory activities that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. Fun interactive activities include creating DIY decorations for the sukkah, storytelling, and waving the lulav. In addition, Sukkot celebrations, also known as Simchat Beit Hashoeva, can be observed with activities such as listening to music, dancing, singing, and feasting.
Cook Delicious Dishes
During this major holiday, many families enjoy sumptuous kosher meals washed down with good wine. You can make this Sukkot extra special by cooking up a storm with fresh, local products to symbolize the bounty of the harvest. Think homemade kreplach filled with organic ingredients, stuffed autumn vegetables, and fluffy honey challahs.