Sukkot is one of the major festivals ordained by God. Every one of the festivals of God have specific and general motifs. During the Passover, we mark redemption fro Egyptian bondage, we kill the passover lamb, put the blood on the lintel and the two door pots, roast the lamb, eat it with bitter herbs and unleavened bread; we tie girdles on on waists, wear sandals on our feet, with our staff in our hands, we keep a feast unto the Lord for seven days thereafter, eating unleavened bread. During Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, we come before the Lord with our Two Loaves, naked with leaven, it is waved before the Lord and presented with an offering. During Sukkot, the feast of Tabernacles, our Joy is exceptional, as we rejoice in gratitude for the gift of being favoured for a new year, just days from Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles when we dwell in booths. Sukkot when we rejoice before hashem with the Four Species. the feast of Tabernacles is one of the three major festivals of God as proclaimed in the Torah:
“Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto Me in the year. The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep; seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, at the time appointed in the month Abib–for in it thou camest out from Egypt; and none shall appear before Me empty; and the feast of harvest, the first-fruits of thy labours, which thou sowest in the field; and the feast of ingathering, at the end of the year, when thou gatherest in thy labours out of the field.”
(Exodus 23:14-16).

It is technically the first of the other two to be celebrated in the Jewish year circle of the count that begins in the seventh month of Tishrei with Rosh HaShana, the “head of the year” ~ Yom Teru’ah, the day of the Blowing of Trumpets, the festival that announces the clarion call on the spirit of man to be awakened to the judgement that is executed on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement:

“And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying: Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest unto you, a memorial proclaimed with the blast of horns, a holy convocation. Howbeit on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; there shall be a holy convocation unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls; and ye shall bring an offering made by fire unto HaShem.”
Leviticus 23:23&24; 27).

Concerning Sukkot, it is written:
“And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying: Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto HaShem. On the first day shall be a holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work. Seven days ye shall bring an offering made by fire unto HaShem; on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall bring an offering made by fire unto HaShem; it is a day of solemn assembly; ye shall do no manner of servile work. These are the appointed seasons of HaShem, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to bring an offering made by fire unto HaShem, a burnt-offering, and a meal-offering, a sacrifice, and drink-offerings, each on its own day; beside the sabbaths of HaShem, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill-offerings, which ye give unto HaShem.”
(Leviticus 23:33-38).

The festival of Sukkot is indeed a feast immersed in so much joy, hence it is called the season of our joy, the harvest season, the period when hearts are elated with the joy of reaping after months of toiling and tending of crops. Sukkot is the season of our joy. A season to rejoice at the benevolence of God Who has shown great mercy and accepted our atonement offerings and has given us a new lease of life by inscribing our names in the Book of Life for a new year. During the feast, we are also required to bring offerings, sacrifices and gifts to the Lord. Along with Passover and Shavuot, the other two major festivals, that is why Sukkot is one of the Shalosh Regalim, the three annual pilgrimages, when every male Jew was to be in Jerusalem according to the command of God that all males must appear before Him three times in a year:

“Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before HaShem thy God in the place which He shall choose; on the feast of unleavened bread, and on the feast of weeks, and on the feast of tabernacles; and they shall not appear before HaShem empty; every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of HaShem thy God which He hath given thee.”
(Deuteronomy 16:16&17).

Various items are brought as offering unto the Lord during Sukkot, from goats, rams to bullocks. In all, a total of 70 bulls are brought, corresponding to the 70 nations of the world. These are offered up upon the alter of sacrifice for a sweet aroma unto the Lord, our God.
May this season bring us abundant joy!

May we in truth and obedience, offer this prayer to Hashem, saying:
“Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam she-heche-ya-nu ve-ki-yi-ma-nu ve-higi-a-nu liz-man ha-zeh.
Blessed are You, L‑rd our God, King of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion.” Amen.

May God grant us a wonderful and happy Sukkot – Feast of Tabernacles this year!
May this season bring us great joy! Abundant blessings!
May our harvests be bountiful and goodly!

Chag Sukkot Sameach!
Happy feast of Tabernacles!