Feast of Tabernacles celebration in Norwich 

2010: Call to Prayer is for the first time celebrating the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles – Sukkot – with an evening of teaching with a traditional festive meal in Norwich.

 

Tabernacles is the last of the seven main Jewish festivals, one of the autumn feasts, and it takes place in Tishri, the seventh month in the Jewish calendar.

 

Just as Passover looked back to God’s deliverance of His people from the Egyptians, so Tabernacles reminds them of His care for them as they wandered in the wilderness; the building of temporary booths is also a reminder of our transience on this earth which is not our permanent home. But for the Christian, Sukkot – also known as the Feast of Booths or of Ingathering – looks forward too to when Jesus comes again for His final harvest.

 

Tabernacles, which is the time of bringing in the late harvest, is also a time of great rejoicing. It would seem that it was not faithfully celebrated throughout Israel’s history, and this was something Ezra pointed out when the exiles returned. Nehemiah tells us, “And the entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in them. The sons of Israel had indeed not done so from the days of Joshua son of Nun to that day. And there was great rejoicing.” (Neh 8:17). After the busy period of bringing in the late harvest, the people were happy to rest and relax and praise God for all His goodness and provision for them. But central to the prayers at Sukkot are the prayers for rain, for the rainy season is approaching, the land is dry and in desperate need of water. And so it was on the last and great day of the Feast (of Tabernacles) that ‘Jesus stood up and proclaimed, “If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink”… now this He said about the Spirit which those who believed in Him were to receive.’ (Jn 7:37-39).

 

But the Feast of Tabernacles also looks forward; Zechariah talks about the days to come when the survivors of the nations will ‘go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts.’ (Zec 14:16). Unlike Passover and Pentecost, Tabernacles has yet to be fulfilled in Christ.

 

Today Sukkot is celebrated with great joy by Jewish people both in Israel and in the Diaspora. Booths are made and (weather permitting) families eat and even sleep in them.