Sukkot, The Ancient Jewish Harvest Festival

Soon we will celebrate the holiday of Sukkot, the ancient Jewish harvest festival, which has been compared to Thanksgiving. In the Torah: “On the fifteenth day of this seventh month in the Feast of Huts, seven days for the Lord. On the first day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any menial work. Seven days you shall bring a fire-offering to the Lord…when you have gathered in the income of the land, you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of goodly tress, branches of palm trees, boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. for seven days you shall dwell in huts, so that your generations know that I made the children of Israel dwell in huts when I brought them out of the Land of Mitzrayim.” (Leviticus 23:33-44) As we celebrate Sukkot, let us remember those in our communities who are less fortunate, who have no hut over their heads and no regular supply of food. Thanks.  –John Mason, Jewish Labor Committee member and Supporter