The Holiday of Sukkot

One of the most important symbols of Sukkot is the ‘Arba Minim’, which consists of four types of plants. These consist of the date palm branch known as the ‘Lulav’, myrtle branches known as ‘Adas’, willow branches known as ‘Arava’, and the ‘Etrog’, a citron. Holding the four species of plants together symbolizes how people with different qualities complement one another and form a unified whole. Each one possesses a quality that the others do not. In this way, each species makes up for and balances what is lacking in the other three. In other words, just as every species is essential to the formation of people, every type and every character trait is necessary to form a complete individual.

Sukkot offers an opportunity to come together and strengthen our bonds, allowing our differences and individual qualities to complement one another. On a spiritual level, we can also reach out to people we have not been in contact with for a long time or those we believe may be feeling alone, and try to bring some happiness into their lives.

* Prepared with excerpts from Nazlı Doenyas’s article “Sevincimizin Zamanı: Sukot”, published at salom.com.tr

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