This post appeared in a previous blog and is here for posterity’s sake.

Sukkots, originally uploaded by Peter Elk

Wondering what all of those shacks on the sides of buildings in Hasidic Williamsburg are? Well, they are Sukkahs which the holiday of Sukkot is celebrated; Sukkot is a 7-day holiday, with the first day celebrated as a full festival with special prayer services and holiday meals. Wikipedia says:

The word Sukkot is the plural of the Hebrew word sukkah, meaning booth or hut. During this holiday, Jews eat their meals, entertain guests, relax, and even sleep in a sukkah, a temporary structure (see below). The sukkah is reminiscent of the type of huts in which the ancient Israelites dwelt during their 40 years of wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt, and reflects God’s benevolence in providing for all their needs in the desert.

In Israel (and among Reform Jews), Sukkot is a 7-day holiday, with the first day celebrated as a full festival with special prayer services and holiday meals. Outside the land of Israel, the first two days are celebrated as full festivals. The remaining days are known as Chol HaMoed (festival weekdays). The seventh day of Sukkot is called Hoshanah Rabbah and has a special observance of its own.

So there you go.

By the way, I’m told that the urban Sukkah market is quite lucrative, and just by perusing a google search of “Sukkah” finds all sorts of e-commerce supply houses for all your Sukkah needs.

Later 12-OCT-2006
From the comments, comes Sukkahs of the World, a photographic collection.