Leviticus 23:33-36
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the Lord. On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. For seven days you shall present food offerings to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present a food offering to the Lord. It is a solemn assembly; you shall not do any ordinary work."
This is a time when Israel was to remember that God was with them in the desert. A time when God dwelled among them. This feast day also points to a time when God will dwell among us again.
The fall feast days foreshadow end times events, beginning with the Feast of Trumpets that announces that God is coming and Judgment Day is soon approaching. The Day of Atonement is that day of judgment, Christ comes back not to pay for sin, but to gather his people. Finally Sukkot where the main focus is to celebrate that God will dwell among the His people. Now that is something to celebrate!
2 Corinthians 5:1-5
For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
The promises are for a future with God and all of our sadness will be turned to joy.
Temporary dwellings are made to celebrate this day; we have built several different styles to observe this day, and have spent some time in tents. This time to commemorate God's promises that we get to be with God forever is worth celebrating and it is something to be joyful about! Remembering this time when God dwelled with Israel in temporary dwellings in the desert reinforces the reality that this is something that is going to happen, and is not just a story. I believe this is why God told His people to keep this feast forever and why I keep it.
Camping for a week does have its surprises, I don't think the weather is the same here as it is in Israel during this time. One year during some rainy weather we had some friends that had to get creative in order to have a dry place to sleep . . . after it was put back on the ground.
There are many traditions that can be found on the internet. Traditions are not all bad, but during this time we want them to have meaning.
While my family and I were attending a service at a local church, the pastor led something called a Mourner's Kaddish (blessing) that was remembering those that have passed away, and looking forward to seeing them again. This was our first time at the church, but the act of acknowledging those that we will see again some day was powerful. Our son passed away about four years ago, and when we went through this ceremony there was a peace throughout it all I wanted to find out more about this blessing.
Now Jews do this blessing at several times during the year, light a candle, and it can become a type of fund raiser with putting up pictures of those that have passed.
Looking at the tradition, I found that Sukkot was an appropriate time. Sukkot is all about the time when sin is gone and we are in the presence of God and those we love that have chosen to follow God. We also do this Kaddish on the day a loved one has passed as a reminder that we will see them again.
So we do this during Sukkot when we will all be in God's presence, together.
Forever.
This is a celebration.
I found a Mourners’ Kaddish (blessing) that I adapted from myjewishlearning.com (English translation). The main parts are read by whoever is leading the Kaddish, and then when you reach the bold section the entire group says "Amen" together. What I like about it is that it is about praising God and the fulfilled promises of being with Him forever.
Psalm 107:1-3
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble
and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
And say Amen
Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name throughout the world which He has created according to His will.
And say Amen
Revelation 21:3-4
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.
And say Amen
Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be he, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world.
And say Amen
May there be abundant peace from heaven and life for us, and for all the family of God, and with a repentant Israel.
And say Amen
He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and all the family of God, and with a repentant Israel.
And say Amen
Revelation 21:6-7
And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
And say Amen
After the seven days of Sukkot the eighth day is a Sabbath. Seven days is the number of completion and the eighth day is to let us know that this will be forever.
I hope you have a happy Sukkot, and are reminded that God is coming back, and what a glorious day that will be.
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