We're here to help you keep count of the days to or since a date. Just click the button below and enter your chosen date to get started. Also choose the suggested days or search for a special day above #countingthedays
The first day of Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, is a Jewish festival celebrated worldwide, including in Australia. This week-long holiday begins on the 15th day of Tishrei, which falls in September or October.
Sukkot commemorates the 40 years that Jews wandered in the desert after their exodus from Egypt, living in temporary shelters known as sukkahs. It is also a harvest festival that marks the end of the agricultural year.
On this day, Australian Jews partake in several traditional activities which include:
Building a Sukkah: Families build temporary huts with roofs made of organic material, like palm fronds or bamboo sticks. These structures are decorated with fruits and foliage.
Dwelling in the Sukkah: Meals are eaten inside the sukkah to fulfill the commandment to dwell in these huts during the holiday.
Four Species (Arba Minim): Observant Jews perform a waving ceremony with four species of plants mentioned in the Torah: etrog (citron), lulav (palm frond), hadas (myrtle twigs), and aravah (willow branches).
Australian Jewish communities come together for prayers and festive meals. There are synagogue services where worshippers participate in Hallel (prayers of praise) and read from Ecclesiastes.
Sukkot is not only religious but also has a strong social aspect; it encourages hospitality, where people invite family, friends, and sometimes strangers to share meals and spend time together within their sukkahs.
Since it's a major holiday, observant Jews refrain from work on the first day of Sukkot. This allows them to fully engage with the traditions and spiritual aspects of this festive time.
