Question: This is my first time observing Sukkot. I would appreciate it if you could explain it to me as easily as possible.

“When a person sits in his Sukkah the Shechinah (God’s Divine Presence) spreads its wings (metaphor) over it, we dwell together with Him.”

One of the important experiences of Sukkot is that of leaving the protection of our permanent dwellings and basking in the shade and protection of God’s presence.

During the holiday, Jewish people recite the ushpizin prayer which symbolises the welcoming of seven "exalted guests" into the sukkah. These ushpizin, or guests, represent the seven shepherds of Israel. Each night of Sukkot, we invite sacred ancestors to enter our sukkah. On the first night, the night of chesed or love, we invite Abraham and Sarah. On the second night, the night of gevurah or strength, we invite Isaac and Rebekah. On the third night, the night of tiferet or beauty, we invite Jacob and Leah. On the fourth night, the night of netzach or eternity, we invite Moses and Tziporah. On the fifth night, the night of hod or glory, we invite Aaron and Miriam. On the sixth night, the night of yesod or foundation, we invite Joseph and Tamar. And on the seventh night, the night of malkhut or dignity, we invite David and Rachel. Another common tradition is to invite Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph, and David, along with the seven female prophets listed in the Talmud: Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Huldah, and Esther. There are also Talmudic reports of Elijah visiting the sukkot of the sages, I believe that even King Messiah visits us unknowingly some times.

Each of the ushpizin has a unique lesson which teaches the parallels of the spiritual focus of the day on which they visit.

Each of the seven Ushpizin exemplified the idea of Sukkot during their lifetimes. For instance Avraham left the security of his home and the house of his father and went off on a journey protected by God’s promise. Yitzchak had to leave his home and dwell amongst the Philistines because of famine. Yaakov had to leave his home and live with Lavan, etc.

The seven also correspond to attributes of God which we aspire to (as we mentioned). For instance, Avraham represents Chessed (Loving Kindness), Yitzchak Gevurah (Strength), etc. These seven attributes also refer to much deeper concepts which are oft discussed in Chassidic texts as well as the Kabbalah, called the Sefirot. These are aspects of the way in which God interacts with his Creation.

There is a custom attributed to the Arizal to invite seven poor people to eat in the Sukkah corresponding to the seven Ushpizin. You then have seven exalted guests from above, with seven earthly guests and God’s Divine Presence hovering over it all.

Some Sephardic Jews have the custom of setting aside a chair in the Sukkah for the guest of the day. The chair is decorated and an announcement is made each day that this is the chair of the Ushpizin.

My children wait each year with such excitement for the night when the boys will come and dance in our Sukkah. I strongly suggest it for communities everywhere.

Would you make it to the sukkah near you? Visit us be our Ushpizin!