What the Third Day of Sukkot Is
Sukkot is a seven-day Jewish festival, with an additional eighth day (Shemini Atzeret) and, in the Diaspora, a ninth day (Simchat Torah) appended to it. In Israel, the festival is observed for seven days plus Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah. The third day is one of the intermediate days, known in Jewish law as Chol HaMoed — the "weekday of the festival."
Because the third day falls within Chol HaMoed, it is a partial rather than full holiday. Work is restricted in traditional observance, but the day is not a full Yom Tov (festival day) with the same prohibitions as the first and second days. This intermediate status shapes how the day is experienced in Israel.
Origins and Meaning
Sukkot is one of the three pilgrimage festivals (Shalosh Regalim) of the Jewish calendar, along with Passover and Shavuot. Biblically, it commemorates the forty years the Israelites wandered in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt, living in temporary booths (sukkot). It is also an agricultural harvest festival, sometimes called the Festival of Ingathering (Chag HaAsif).
The third day carries no distinct biblical or rabbinic identity of its own; its character derives entirely from its place within the seven-day festival. In Israel, where the first and last days are full holidays and the middle days are Chol HaMoed, the third day is typically the first or second of the intermediate days, depending on how the calendar falls.
How Israel Marks the Day
In Israel, Sukkot is a national holiday period, not merely a religious one. Schools are on break, many workplaces are closed or operate on reduced schedules, and the country's public life takes on a distinctly festive rhythm.
- Dwelling in the sukkah: Observant Jews eat their meals in the sukkah throughout the festival, including the third day. Many also sleep in the sukkah, weather permitting.
- The Four Species: The lulav (palm branch), etrog (citron), hadass (myrtle), and aravah (willow) are taken and waved daily during Sukkot, including Chol HaMoed. In Israel, the lulav and etrog are widely available in markets and are a common sight on the streets.
- Synagogue services: Morning services include Hallel (psalms of praise), the waving of the Four Species, and, on Chol HaMoed, additional prayers. In Israel, the third day is a regular weekday-service day with festival additions.
- Chol HaMoed atmosphere: The intermediate days are marked by a relaxed, holiday mood. Families go on outings, visit friends and relatives, and take part in the many public events organized across the country.
Food and Drink
Sukkot food in Israel reflects both the festival's agricultural roots and the practicalities of eating in a sukkah.
- Seasonal produce: The festival coincides with the autumn harvest, and Israeli markets are full of seasonal fruits and vegetables.
- Stuffed foods: Stuffed vegetables and other dishes are traditional on Sukkot, symbolizing abundance and the harvest.
- Dairy and honey: Some Sukkot customs include dairy foods and honey, though these are not universal.
- Meals in the sukkah: The central food experience of the day is the meal eaten in the sukkah, often shared with family and guests. Hospitality (ushpizin) is a common theme.
Religious and Civic Observances
In Israel, Sukkot has both a religious and a civic dimension. The Chief Rabbinate and local rabbinical authorities oversee the availability of kosher lulavim and etrogim. Municipalities and community centers organize Sukkot events, and the festival is recognized in the public calendar.
Chol HaMoed days, including the third day, are not full public holidays, so public transportation and many businesses operate, though often on a holiday schedule. This makes the day a blend of religious observance and ordinary civic life.
Public Festivities
Israel is known for its extensive Sukkot festivities, many of which take place during Chol HaMoed. These include:
- City festivals: Many cities hold Sukkot fairs, concerts, and cultural events.
- Family outings: Nature reserves, national parks, and beaches are popular destinations during the intermediate days.
- Religious gatherings: Mass gatherings for prayer and celebration, including at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, draw large crowds during the festival.
- Children's activities: With schools closed, many organizations run programs for children and families.
Regional Variations
Observance and celebration vary across Israel.
- Jerusalem: The city sees a particularly intense concentration of Sukkot activity, including large numbers of visitors, extensive sukkah-building, and religious gatherings. The atmosphere is notably festive and crowded.
- Tel Aviv and the coastal plain: The festival is marked more in a secular, cultural key, with public events, beach outings, and a relaxed holiday mood.
- Galilee and the north: Rural and agricultural communities often emphasize the harvest aspect of the festival, with local events and produce markets.
- Negev and the south: Sukkot is observed with community events and outings, though the sukkah itself is sometimes adapted to the desert climate.
Summary
The third day of Sukkot in Israel is a Chol HaMoed day — part of the intermediate period of the festival. It is marked by dwelling in the sukkah, waving the Four Species, synagogue prayer, family meals, and a wide range of public festivities. In Israel, the day blends religious observance with a national holiday atmosphere, and its character varies from the intense religious focus of Jerusalem to the more secular celebrations of Tel Aviv and the agricultural traditions of the north.