Happy Sukkot!

Sukkot begins this evening – one of the most important and joyful holidays in Judaism, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles.

Sukkot recalls the Jewish people’s journey through the Sinai Desert and their life in temporary dwellings known as sukkot. It is also a harvest festival and a time of gratitude, inviting us to appreciate what we have. Throughout the week, it is customary to spend as much time as possible in the sukkah – eating, praying, and gathering with family and friends.

One of the most important symbols of Sukkot is the Four Species: the etrog (a citrus fruit), palm, myrtle, and willow branches. They are brought together in a special holiday ritual and serve as a reminder of unity and our responsibility for one another.

The Vilna Gaon Museum of Jewish History wishes everyone a joyful, meaningful, and uplifting Sukkot!

Illustration: Rafael Chwoles, Sukkot Celebration, 1981, canvas, cardboard. You can see this and more works by Rafael Chwoles at the Rafael Chwoles Museum, located on the fourth floor of the Museum of Jewish Culture and Identity (Pylimo St. 4A).