In Chapter 23, verses 41 to 43 of the Book of Leviticus, it is written:
מא וְחַגֹּתֶם אֹתוֹ חַג לה’, שִׁבְעַת יָמִים בַּשָּׁנָה: חֻקַּת עוֹלָם לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם, בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי תָּחֹגּוּ אֹתוֹ. מב בַּסֻּכֹּת תֵּשְׁבוּ, שִׁבְעַת יָמִים; כָּל-הָאֶזְרָח, בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, יֵשְׁבוּ, בַּסֻּכֹּת. לְמַעַן, יֵדְעוּ דֹרֹתֵיכֶם, כִּי בַסֻּכּוֹת הוֹשַׁבְתִּי אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּהוֹצִיאִי אוֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם: אֲנִי ה אֱלֹקֵיכֶם.
You shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year; it shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths for seven days; all citizens1 in Israel shall dwell in booths, so that your generations may know that I had the children of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
These words emphasize the importance of the roots of the Jewish nation. They were liberated from slavery in Egypt. This festival is an opportunity to celebrate freedom, the importance of faith, perseverance, the long history of Israel, and Jewish culture. It is a time to bring the entire community together and to remind them of the essence of the people.
An extraordinary sukkah is erected in Safra Square, where faithful and visitors from around the world converge. This gigantic sukkah, the ‘largest in the world,’ has a capacity of 650 people and covers an area of 800 square meters. The interior of the sukkah is adorned with biblical verses related to Jerusalem and photographs of the holy city. Festivities, workshops, performances, and virtual reality activities for all ages are offered.
The seven days of the Sukkot festival are celebrated in an atmosphere of great joy and sharing.
1 The root of the Hebrew word “הָאֶזְרָח” is אזר, which is related to the concept of belonging to a people. The term is often used in a legal or administrative context to distinguish citizens from foreigners or temporary residents.