Sukkot (First Day), observed in Israel, is a biblical Jewish holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh month, Tishrei. Sukkot, also known as 'Feast of Booths' or 'Feast of Tabernacles', commemorates the forty years of Israelite wandering in the desert after the giving of the Torah atop Mount Sinai. During this time, Israelites lived in temporary shelters, called sukkahs, hence the name of the holiday.
The first day of Sukkot is marked as a holy day with an array of traditional rituals and ceremonies. It's common for Jewish households to build their own sukkah, in which meals are eaten and families spend time for seven days. They are often decorated with various produce and palm branches. The day is filled with prayers, special feasts, and the fulfilling of the mitzvah (commandment) of waving the Four Species, which include, etrog, lulav, hadass, and aravah - these are citrus fruit, palm frond, myrtle, and willow twigs respectively.
Sukkot (First Day) is a public holiday in Israel, where businesses and public sectors are usually closed. It not only holds religious significance, but historical and agricultural importance as well. The holiday also marks the start of the harvest season, celebrating the bounty and blessings of the year gone by. It fosters a sense of gratitude, togetherness, and profound reflections on history, thus serving as a strong reminder of the enriching spiritual and cultural roots of the Israeli and the wider Jewish community.