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F4: Succot Page 2 -Names
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What's in a name?
Like other Jewish festivals, this one is know by
1) CHAG HA'SUCCOT (or SUCCOT) - The most common name is Succot, which literally means (booths( or (huts(. This refers to the temporary shelters that the Israelites lived in during their forty years of wanderings in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt. They were probably a bit like the kind of huts you can still see Bedouin living in in the Sinai these days. In the Book of Leviticus, chapter 23 from verses 34-45, it explains exactly what we are supposed to do to commemorate the way that we were protected by God with these huts and why: '...you shall live in booths for 7 days so that all generations will know that I made the Children of Israel live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt...'
2) CHAG HA'ASIF - This means the Festival of Ingathering, which refers to the gathering of crops from the fields and orchards during this autumn period. This festival has always been an important agricultural occasion and is mentioned by this name in the Bible before it was even known as Succot: '...you shall keep the feast of the harvest gathering when you have gathered your produce from the field...' Chag Ha'asif was therefore the original name for Succot, as it was a national agricultural celebration before it took on the religious significance. It is generally agreed by many historians that during the harvest period, farmers would erect small huts by the side of their fields to sleep and eat in, so that they would not waste time travelling back and forth from their homes. So, by re-enacting this during the festival which falls immediately after the harvest has been gathered, we are celebrating the hard work of all those who worked in the fields.
3) ZMAN SIMCHATEINU - The translation of this name is 'the time of our rejoicing'. Succot is the only festival known by this name, as it is the only festival where the Torah specifically tells us to rejoice: '...and you shall rejoice before your God for seven days.' (Lev. 23:40). It is probably clear to you from reading the above 2 paragraphs why we have good reasons to be happy at this time of year.
4) CHAG - The word 'chag' means feast or festival. The fact that Succot was considered by most to be the numero uno, top dog festival, can be clearly seen by referring to it simply as 'The Festival' (such as in Lev 23:39-41). It was so important that King Solomon chose this festival as the occasion for the celebration of the dedication of his Temple (try saying that with a mouth full of fruit!!).
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