What the Fourth Day of Sukkot Is
Sukkot, the Festival of Booths (also called the Feast of Tabernacles), is a week-long Jewish festival of thanksgiving and remembrance. In Israel it is one of the major pilgrimage festivals, alongside Passover and Shavuot. The fourth day is not a distinct holiday with its own name; it is one of the intermediate days, known in Jewish law as Chol HaMoed ("the weekdays of the festival").
Because the fourth day falls within Chol HaMoed, it is observed as a semi-festive day: normal work is restricted in traditional practice, but the full prohibitions of the festival's first and last days do not apply. In Israel, where Sukkot is a national holiday period, the day is part of a broader week of vacation, travel, and public celebration.
Origins and Meaning
Sukkot commemorates the forty years the Israelites wandered in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt, when they lived in temporary booths, or sukkot. It is also an agricultural harvest festival, historically marking the ingathering of crops at the end of the summer. These twin themes—historical memory and gratitude for the harvest—shape how the festival is observed.
The commandment to dwell in booths for seven days is central to the festival, and the intermediate days are part of that seven-day period. In Israel, Sukkot is observed for seven days, with the first day (and, in the Diaspora, the first two days) being a full festival day and the following days, including the fourth, being Chol HaMoed.
Customs and Traditions
- Dwelling in the sukkah: Many Jews eat their meals—and some sleep—in a sukkah, a temporary hut with a roof of branches or other natural material through which the sky is visible. This practice continues throughout the festival, including the fourth day.
- The Four Species (arba minim): The etrog (citron), lulav (palm frond), hadass (myrtle), and aravah (willow) are held together and waved in six directions during morning prayers. This ritual is performed each day of Sukkot except Shabbat, so on the fourth day it is typically performed in the synagogue.
- Synagogue services: Morning services include special prayers, Hallel (psalms of praise), and the reading of the Torah portion for the day. The day's offerings in the Temple are recalled in the additional Musaf service.
- Ushpizin: A mystical custom, associated with the Kabbalistic tradition, invites seven "guests" (the biblical patriarchs and other figures) into the sukkah on successive nights. The fourth day corresponds to one of these guests, though the specific association varies by tradition.
Food and Drink
Food during Sukkot emphasizes the harvest and the festive character of the week. Meals are typically eaten in the sukkah, and hospitality is a major theme. Common foods include:
- Stuffed dishes: Vegetables, poultry, and other foods are often stuffed, a symbolic nod to the harvest and abundance.
- Seasonal produce: Fruits and vegetables associated with the autumn harvest, including apples, pomegranates, and squash.
- Holiday breads: Challah, sometimes shaped into rounds or decorated, is served at festive meals.
- Dairy and honey: Sweet foods and dairy dishes appear on many Sukkot tables, reflecting the festival's joyous character.
In Israel, the fourth day of Sukkot often falls during the school holiday, so family meals and outdoor gatherings are common.
Religious and Civic Observances
In Israel, Sukkot is a national holiday. The first and last days are full public holidays, while the intermediate days—including the fourth—are official vacation days for many workplaces and schools. This gives the day a dual character: it is both a religious observance and part of a national holiday period.
Religiously, the day is marked by synagogue attendance, the waving of the Four Species, and meals in the sukkah. Civically, it is a time when many Israelis travel, visit family, and participate in public events. The Israel Defense Forces and other public institutions adjust schedules during the week, and many businesses operate on a reduced or holiday footing.
Public Festivities
Because the fourth day falls in the middle of the festival week, it is often part of a broader period of public celebration. In Israel, Sukkot is known for:
- Holiday fairs and markets: Temporary markets selling sukkah decorations, Four Species, and festival foods appear in many cities.
- Concerts and performances: Municipalities and cultural organizations often hold outdoor concerts, theater, and children's events during Chol HaMoed.
- Museum and site programming: Many museums, national parks, and heritage sites offer special Sukkot programming, including guided tours and family activities.
- Pilgrimage and visits: Although the biblical pilgrimage to Jerusalem is no longer practiced in its original form, many Israelis visit Jerusalem during Sukkot, and the city hosts large crowds and special events.
Regional Variations
Observance and atmosphere vary across Israel:
- Jerusalem: As the historic center of pilgrimage, Jerusalem sees the largest concentration of Sukkot activity. The city's synagogues, sukkot, and public events draw visitors from across the country and abroad.
- Tel Aviv and the coastal plain: The festival is marked more by public events, beach gatherings, and cultural programming than by intense religious observance, though many synagogues and communities maintain traditional practices.
- Galilee and the north: Rural and agricultural communities often emphasize the harvest aspect of the festival, with local produce and outdoor activities.
- Negev and the south: Sukkot programming in the south tends to focus on nature, hiking, and desert tourism during the holiday week.
- Mixed cities: In cities with both Jewish and Arab populations, the holiday period brings a mix of observances and everyday life, with public services operating on a holiday schedule.
Practical Notes for Visitors
- Public transportation in Israel often runs on a reduced or modified schedule during Chol HaMoed, and some services do not operate on the full festival days at the start and end of Sukkot.
- Many restaurants and shops remain open during the intermediate days, but hours can vary, especially in Jerusalem.
- Accommodation and popular sites can be crowded, as the week is a peak domestic travel period.
- Visitors are generally welcome at public Sukkot events, but should be respectful of religious observance in synagogues and religious neighborhoods.