Shalom friends,
The first month of the Hebrew Calendar, Tishrey (תִּשְׁרֵי), is a month of joy and renewal, of self-examination (חֶשְׁבּוֹן נֶפֶשׁ, xeshbon nefesh) and absolution. This is a month of the changing of the seasons– not only in terms of climate, but also a change of seasons in the heart, in our relationships with ourselves, with others and with the Creator. On the first day of Tishrey, we celebrate our New Year; ten days later we observe the holiest day of the year – Yom Kippur (יוֹם כִּפּוּר known as the Day of Atonement). In the middle of the month of Tishrey, under a full moon, we celebrate Sukot (סֻכּוֹת), one of the three biblically-mandated holidays, in which Jewish people used to make pilgrimages to the Temple in Jerusalem. For seven days we sit in a Suka (booth, tabernacle) in memory of the fragile dwellings in which the Israelites dwelt after the exodus from Egypt. And, on the day that follows the Festival of Sukot (סֻכּוֹת), we celebrate שמחת תּוֹרָה (Simxat Torah, Rejoicing of the Torah) - the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle.
According to the Bible, the Festival of Sukot has an agricultural, as-well-as historical origin. This is a holiday in which the completion of the harvest is celebrated and the nation is thankful for the bounty of nature in the year that has passed. Therefore, it is also named חַג הָאָסִיף (xag ha’asif, The Feast of Ingathering”. In the Book of Leviticus, God told Moses to command the people to live in a booth (סֻכָּה, suka) for seven days, to ensure that future generations remember that G-d made the Children of Israel live in booths when they were brought out of the land of Egypt. Although they wondered in the desert for 40 years, their spirit was not broken and they became a nation.
בַּסֻּכֹּת תֵּשְׁבוּ, שִׁבְעַת יָמִים; כָּל-הָאֶזְרָח, בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, יֵשְׁבוּ, בַּסֻּכֹּת. לְמַעַן, יֵדְעוּ דֹרֹתֵיכֶם, כִּי בַסֻּכּוֹת הוֹשַׁבְתִּי אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּהוֹצִיאִי אוֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם: אֲנִי, יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם. (וַיִּקְרָא כ"ג מב-מג). Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are home-born in Israel shall dwell in booths; that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 23:42-43)
It is custom to invite guests to the Suka – there are “real” guests such as family and friends and “spiritual” guests calledאושפיזין (ushpizin). The spiritual guests are the seven fathers of the nation: Abraham, Yitzhak, Yaakov, Moshe, Aaron, Joseph, and David.
We invite you to join our virtual Suka, wave the Four Species, and sing about a Suka of peace. In this holiday, you must rejoice as commanded in the Torah: וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְּחַגֶּךָ (vesamaxta bexagexa).
שִׁירָה כֹּהֵן-רֶגֶב
Shira Cohen-Regev
The eTeacherHebrew Team
Sukot Hebrew Words
One of the most important commandments of Sukot relates to waving the Four Species (אַרְבַּעַת הַמִּינִים, arba’at haminim). The Four Species are:
Lulav (לוּלָב) – a ripe, green, closed frond from a date palm tree
Hadas(הֲדַס) – boughs with leaves from the myrtle tree
Arava (עֲרָבָה) – branches with leaves from the willow tree
Etrog (אֶתְרוֹג) – the fruit of a citron tree
Binding the Four Species symbolizes our desire to unite the four "types" of Jews in service of God. An allusion is made to whether or not the species have taste and/or smell, which correspond to Torah and good deeds. The symbolism is as follows:
The lulav has taste but no smell, symbolizing those who study Torah but do not possess good deeds.
The hadas has a good smell but no taste, symbolizing those who possess good deeds but do not study Torah.
The arava has neither taste nor smell, symbolizing those who lack both Torah and good deeds.
The etrog has both a good taste and a good smell, symbolizing those who have both Torah and good deeds.
Hebrew Sukot Song
Shlomit Bona Suka
Shlomit is building a Suka
שְׁלוֹמִית בּוֹנָה סֻכָּה
Lyrics and Music: Naomi Shemer
מִלִּים וְלַחַן: נָעֳמִי שֶׁמֶר
Translation
Transliteration
Hebrew
Shlomit is building a Suka
Enlightened and green
Therefore she’s busy today
And it’s not a simple Suka
Enlightened and green –
Shlomit is building a Suka of Peace
Shlomit bona suka
mu’eret viyruka
al ken hi asuka hayom
ve’eyn zo stam suka
mu’eret viyruka –
Shlomit bona sukat shalom
This song was written by Naomi Shemer in 1974, a year after the Yom Kipur War, and it describes her wish for peace. She actually wrote this song about her young neighbor Shlomit, who built a Suka. The root of the name Shlomit (שְׁלוֹמִית) is the same as the root of the word Peace (שָׁלוֹם) and the link between the two words is probably not accidental.
You can watch and listen to the song here.
Sukot WordSearch
See if you can find all the words in the puzzle below:
Savanna, prairie; desert; willow tree; a geographical region in Israel, near the Jordan river: "The plain (=Arabah) also and Jordan and the coast thereof, from Chinnereth even unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea under Ashdoth pisgah eastward" (Deuteronomy 3, 17).
The name יוסף is the future form (third person singular) of the verb להוסיף (le’hosif, “to add”). Rachel, Joseph’s mother, hoped God would give her another son.
History:
There are several people in the Bible called Joseph. The most important among them Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, made him a governor of Egypt.
Citation:
“And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her and opened her womb. And she conceived and bare a son, and said, God hath taken away my reproach. And she called his name Joseph and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.” Genesis 30, 22-24
Product of The Week- Babylon 9 and the Hebrew Even Shushan Dic'
The most comprehensive Hebrew Dictionary. Revised and updated for the 21st century, the Even Shoshan Dictionary is the ultimate dictionary for both contemporary (modern) and Biblical Hebrew. The conversation book includes exercises that will improve your Hebrew and improve your ability to remember what you learned in each conversation.
"I appreciate and enjoy the Hebrew newsletters. Thank you for the free Hebrew lessons. I am reviewing from my past class with you. It is great!"
Deborah
" Thank you very much it is very interesting your course of Hebrew my mother language its Spanish thus why you will find mistakes in this letter. I will continue for understand more and more. I love Israel and I think its very interesting his history art and everything. Thank you very much."
Elisa Sierra Camacho
" Thank you for sending me the latest Newsletter. I can honestly say that this is the best and most informative Newsletter I have ever received from anyone. I really enjoyed the article about Tel Ch’ai and Josef Trumpeldor, and then to be able to hear the song sung in Hebrew while reading a phonetic translation was indeed brilliant. And to top it all there are Hebrew puzzles! You are truly gifted teachers to make learning so interesting. Learning a new language is never easy, especially when one has to learn a new alphabet as well, but you make learning a delight.
Many many thanks – todahrabbah!! And long may you continue. Shalom."
Geraldine Watson
" Shalom,I really enjoy the newsletter. It makes me feel close to Israel. I am a Christian but feel drawn very closely to the Jewish people. I long to visit Jerusalem and hope one day that God allows me that opportunity. May God bless the Jewish nation, its people and its land. May peace with you."
Oslaida Jennings,Pasadena, California
" shalom! I enjoyed the interesting article about the migrating birds in Israël, and the pictures, and the Jeremiah quote ! Thought provoking Todaraba!"
Academic Biblical Hebrew Teachers – Position openings
We need your help! Students worldwide want to learn Biblical Hebrew in their own language. You can help us give them the opportunity. eTeacher is looking for French, Portuguese, German & Spanish speaking Biblical Hebrew teachers.
In eTeacher we put an emphasis not only on learning the language, but also on the learning experience and the social connection between students and teachers.
Read the personal stories, as told by our teachers and students
To read some of our past students testimonials click here
eTeacherBiblical - I'm Reading & Speaking My Heart's Language!
Angela James ,Houston, Texas
Scott Booth:
After my last visit to Israel I decided I wanted to learn my hearts language, I searched on the internet and found eTeacher. I signed up for the next available class and have never looked back!! After a mere 16 weeks of class time, I am able to read and write in Hebrew.
In the Book of Leviticus, God told Moses to command the people to live in a booth (
