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Sukkot, the biblical fall-harvest festival, marks the first rains of the season. For a week Jewish families dine in a Sukkah, the kind of hut in which the children of Israel dwelled for seven days "in order that your generations may know that I caused the children of Israel to dwell in tabernacles when I brought them out of the land of Egypt" (Leviticus 23:42-3). The typical Sukkah may have its roof covered with evergreens open to see the sky, according to the biblical injunction.
At synagogue, Jews hold the four species mentioned in the Bible: the palm, the myrtle, the willow, and the etrog (citron) representing "the fruit of a goodly tree." The etrog, according to Leviticus 23:40 must be in perfect condition.
Grape leaves, zucchini, and cabbage, filled with rice or kasha and meat, all symbolize the desire for plenty during the harvest period. These items often find their way into traditional Sukkot foods. While in Europe barley or buckwheat groats were often used as a filling, rice is the most common grain used in this country.
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The Etrog
Tapestry depicting the Sukkot
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