Jewish 101: Sukkot & Simchat Torah

What Are Sukkot and Simchat Torah?

The Feast of Tabernacles is one of the three major pilgrimage festivals commanded in the Torah, in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. It begins on the fifteenth of the seventh month and lasts for seven days, followed by an additional day known as Shemini Atzeret.

It commemorates the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, living in temporary shelters after the exodus from Egypt.

Dwelling in the Sukkah

In observance, families build and dwell in a sukkah, a simple outdoor booth with a natural roof through which the stars can be seen. Meals are eaten inside, and some even sleep there. The structure reminds participants of both the fragility of life and God's provision in the desert.

Another central element is the waving of the four species—palm, myrtle, willow, and citron—as commanded in Leviticus 23, symbolizing joy and unity.

A Festival of Rejoicing

Historically, Sukkot was a time of rejoicing in the temple, with processions, music, and the water-drawing ceremony. Today it remains one of the most joyful festivals in the Jewish calendar, marked by community meals, decorations, and gatherings.

Simchat Torah

The additional day developed later in Jewish history into the holiday of Simchat Torah and marks the completion and new beginning of the annual Torah reading cycle. The last verses of Deuteronomy are read, followed immediately by the beginning of Genesis—a celebration of the Torah as a living, ongoing story.

Yeshua at the Feast

In the New Testament, John 7 describes Yeshua going to Jerusalem for Sukkot. He teaches at the temple, and on the last day of the festival he speaks of living water, echoing the temple's water rituals. His presence at the feast reflects the importance of Sukkot in his time and his life.

A Universal and Prophetic Dimension

Sukkot also carries a universal dimension. In the temple, seventy bulls were offered over the course of the festival on behalf of the world. Since these bulls are traditionally understood to represent the nations of the world, the prophet Zechariah foretells a future time when all nations will come to Jerusalem to celebrate Sukkot, recognizing the kingship of the Lord. This gives the festival a prophetic scope, pointing to a day of global worship and unity under God.

Sukkot and Simchat Torah together express gratitude—for shelter, for scripture, and for the enduring faithfulness of God from generation to generation.