SUKK'OT

Sukk'ot is the 7-day-long Feast Of Tabernacles

The first day of Sukk'ot IS a Sabbath AND a High Holy Day!

Ye-shu'a (Jesus) was born on the first day of the 7-day-long Feast / Festival of SUKK'OT. Because of the massive crowds of religious "Pilgrims" attending this Feast / Festival, who had occupied all available space for many miles around Jerusalem, there as no room at any inn --- or even in private homes.

Since every indoor space available to travelers and religious "Pilgrims" was already taken, initially there was nowhere to stay but in one of the many thousands of "Tabernacles" (Booths) that had been erected for this High Holy Day.

A stable for animals is an extremely unsanitary place to give birth, risking the life of both the mother and the child by contamination from animal wastes.

Ye-shu'a (Jesus) was NOT born in a barn, a stable, a grotto or a cave, but rather in a temporary dwelling called a tabernacle (sukk'ah or booth) which had been built (in the tens-of-thousands throughout the region surrounding Jerusalem) especially for the Feast Of Tabernacles (Sukk'ot) celebration.

His birth was on Tishri 15, 3758, on the Hebrew's calendar. Which date translates to October 4, BCE 4, on our modern Gregorian calendar.

The first day of SUKK'OT is a High Holy Day, an Annual High Sabbath, a "Pilgrimage" Sabbath. Since the first-day-Sabbath could fall on any day of the week, along with a routine, weekly, Saturday Sabbath, there are usually two Sabbaths during the week of SUKK'OT.

The God-ordained High Holy Day on the first day of Sukk'ot is neglected by modern Hebrews because, at this time of year, their "Religious" and cultural leaders, the Orthodox Jews, put ALL of their emphasis on Rosh haShanah, Yom Kippur and the eight days in between THEM.

This misdirected emphasis gives cause to suspect that Hebrew religious authorities have never even read their OWN Holy Scriptures.

Among scripturally astute individuals, much amusement is derived from noting the differences between the beliefs and practices (the customs and traditions) of modern-day "cultural" Hebrews as opposed to what The God Of Abraham has revealed to them in the Holy Scriptures.

The Hebrews possess the "Oracles Of God", yet the Hebrews cannot make any sense out of them at all.

For even if Hebrews actually DO read their own Holy Scriptures,
it is obvious that they do not understand what they are reading.
About which, SEE: Second Corinthians 3:14-16

Rosh haShanah, the New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, are two very important holidays in the Jewish calendar.

However, modern Hebrews attribute far more importance to both of them than is actually warranted, justifiable or even defensible.

Modern Hebrews consider Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur (and the days between them) to be "THE" High Holy Days.

Whereas this is not God's opinion, for God has NOT declared either Rosh haShanah or Yom Kippur a High Holy Day.

The three High Holy Days established by God are:

(About which, see:  Ex. 23:14-17  ---  Lev. Chapter 23  ---  Deu. 16:16)

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WHO are YOU going to believe?   God, MAYBE?

But, remember that
there actually are NO Hebrew or Jewish Holy Days,
for there are only GOD'S Holy Days
which the Sons of Israel were commanded to faithfully observe
as their form of worship of The God Of Abraham.

The Old Testament Holy Days were ordained by God as
"Appointed Times" which He considers Holy unto Himself.

be in so much confusion about the timing of their OWN Annual High Sabbaths
(High Holy Days), the God-ordained "Pilgrimage" Sabbaths?
Click Here - Read About Pharisees -vs- Sadducees

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The following are modern Hebrew "BELIEFS" about Sukk'ot.
These are man-made traditions and customs that were not derived from the Hebrew's Holy Scriptures (Torah, Tanakh) but emerged during, and have evolved since, the Babylonian Diaspora, and have been greatly expanded upon in the Talmud (Rabbinical commentaries).

A Jewish traditional belief considers the first day of Sukk'ot to be the day on which a person begins accumulating sins for the next year.

And it is IMAGINED that in order to start the new year off right people should begin building their sukkah (tabernacle, or booth) right after Yom Kippur.

The sukkah is a temporary house, where today's Hebrews eat (but rarely sleep) for the 7-day-long holiday. It is a reminder of the forty years spent wandering in the desert before entering into Israel.

Whereas God's command was that the Hebrews would DWELL in the sukkah (tabernacle, or booth) full-time. They were to RESIDE - LIVE in a sukkah throughout the entire seven nights and days of Sukk'ot. The sukkah was to be their HOME during this Feast / Festival which has special significance to God.

A good example of how far the Hebrews have departed from the commands of God is the fact that, since before the days of Ye-shu'a (Jesus), even unto today, Hebrews DO NOT dwell, reside or live in a sukkah (tabernacle, or booth) throughout the entire seven nights and days of Sukk'ot.

The best evidence of this neglected practice is that Ye-shu'a (Jesus) was born on a date (at night) when everyone in Israel was supposed to have been DWELLING in their sukkah, not in houses or inns. Yet, the family of Christ Jesus could find no room, indoors, anywhere.

So Ye-shu'a (Jesus) was born IN an unused (empty) tabernacle on the first evening of the Feast Of Tabernacles, on the High Holy Day Sabbath of Sukk'ot.

How appropriate that Ye-shu'a (Jesus) was born in an unused sukkah (tabernacle) on the first evening of Sukk'ot!
John 1:14 - "And the Word was made flesh, and tabernacled among us... "

Sukk'ot celebrates the pillars of fire and cloud that protected Israel in the desert during their Exodus.

These pillars were the Shekhinah, the visible presence of HaShem - God.

The Shekhinah protected Israel from above, providing shade during the day and warmth during the night.

The tabernacles (booths) are a celebration of the tents the Israelites lived in while they wandered in the desert.

Today's modern reason for celebrating Sukk'ot is that, after atoning for sins on Yom Kippur, Hebrews believe they are like a clean slate. With this IMAGINED fresh beginning, Hebrews are especially capable of fulfilling the Mitzvah of Joy on Sukk'ot. Joy is an important part of today's celebration.

BUT, the Mitzvah of Joy over atoning for sins on Yom Kippur is intended by God to be celebrated ON Yom Kippur. (Lev. 23:32; "... you shall celebrate... " ) For once one has performed the requisite affliction, atonement and reconciliation, Yom Kippur is still a Feast / Festival day of JOY over the relief from guilt for those sins that have been atoned-for.

THAT Mitzvah of Joy (which is exclusive to Yom Kippur) is not intended by God to be postponed until Sukk'ot just because of today's habitual pervasive gloominess of the traditional (man-made) custom of fasting on a morose, sullen, dour Yom Kippur, for that ill-conceived gloominess prevents any feelings of Joy ON Yom Kippur.

Also, during the fall harvest in Israel, farmers would live in a sukkah on the edges of their fields while they completed the harvest, which was around the time of Sukk'ot.

The most important symbol of Sukk'ot is the sukkah itself. It is a small hut (or kiosk), there is no permanent roof, leafy branches are used to cover the top.

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On the day AFTER the end of the week of Sukk'ot, there is an Annual Sabbath Day called Shemini Atzeret which is not part of The Feast Of Tabernacles.

Shemini Atzeret is mistakenly referred to by Hebrews as the eighth day of the Festival of Sukk'ot, which occupies the seven (7) preceding days.

While Shemini Atzeret IS eight days from the first day of Sukk'ot, it is NOT part of the week of Tabernacles.

In fact, Shemini Atzeret stands alone from the week of Sukk'ot and is a separate minor Holy Day unto itself.