Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)
The Feast of Tabernacles begins on the 15th day of the month tishri and lasts for 8 days.
This feast was established in the memory of the 40-year-long journey of our ancestors through the desert, where they lived in booths (tents) סֻכּוֹת.
The first and the last days of this feast are worship assembly and all work (except the preparation of food) is prohibited, the other 6 days are semi-feasts חֹל הַמֹּעֵד khol ha-moed, during these 6 days it is permissible to do the most necessary work.
This feast was established in the memory of the 40-year-long journey of our ancestors through the desert, where they lived in booths (tents) סֻכּוֹת.
The first and the last days of this feast are worship assembly and all work (except the preparation of food) is prohibited, the other 6 days are semi-feasts חֹל הַמֹּעֵד khol ha-moed, during these 6 days it is permissible to do the most necessary work.
The last day is the day of assembly which is called שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת Shemini Atzeret, because on this day the people pilgrimaged in Jerusalem, where they listened to the reading of the Torah.
This day is also know as שִׂמְחַת תוֹרָה Simkhat Torah - Rejoicing of Torah, because every Saturday we read one portion of the Torah - פָּרָשָׁה parasha, but on this day we read the last portion of the Torah and we begin to read the Torah from the beginning.
At this time Karaites celebrate Sukkot in this way:
During worship they add to the common prayers the prayers specially compiled for this feast.
For 7 days, in the morning and evening after worship, the community move to the municipal סֻכָּה sukka, which is in the courtyard of the kenasa (synagogue).
The sukka is decorated with leaved branches and with various kinds of fruits.
In the sukka we read the short singing prayer.
This day is also know as שִׂמְחַת תוֹרָה Simkhat Torah - Rejoicing of Torah, because every Saturday we read one portion of the Torah - פָּרָשָׁה parasha, but on this day we read the last portion of the Torah and we begin to read the Torah from the beginning.
At this time Karaites celebrate Sukkot in this way:
During worship they add to the common prayers the prayers specially compiled for this feast.
For 7 days, in the morning and evening after worship, the community move to the municipal סֻכָּה sukka, which is in the courtyard of the kenasa (synagogue).
The sukka is decorated with leaved branches and with various kinds of fruits.
In the sukka we read the short singing prayer.