October 10, 2025 – Dr. Susanna Kokkonen
Sukkot 5786 (2025)
Numbers 29:26-34
Sukkot, the name of this Torah portion means “booths.” This refers to the Feast of Tabernacles.
Between Rosh Hashanah, the new year (also Feast of Trumpets), and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, there are ten days of awe. These are days of prayer and repentance. The period is beautiful, solemn, and spiritual all at the same time.
Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles comes after these days which are celebrated during the Torah Portion called Succot.
During Sukkot (eight days) people build tabernacles and take their meals in these as well as sleeping in them. There is strong symbolism here. During the years of their desert wanderings people had only God to rely on for their needs. The booths are flimsy like life is. Only God can provide and knows the future.
Offerings
In this Torah Portion Succot offerings are specified for each day.
“On the fifth day offer nine bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.
With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified.
Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
On the sixth day offer eight bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.
With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified.
Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
On the seventh day offer seven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.” (Numbers 29: 26-32 NIV)
As strange as these offerings seem to many modern people, there is one thing that should speak to us.
There is no mention of the person offering these things. His qualities are not mentioned. There does not seem to be an expectation of how the person had to be, perfect or spiritual. No. The sole demand is that the offering needs to be perfect.
Man can never be good enough. What is offered for his sins can be perfect.
Water
Water was a huge part of the Feast of Tabernacles. A priest drew water from the pool of Siloam and brought it up to the temple. It was poured on the altar. This water ceremony took place for seven days.
There is a detailed story in the New Testament related to water.
Jesus at the time of Succot was not intending to go to the temple.
“But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near,
Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do.
No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”
For even his own brothers did not believe in him.” (John 7:2-5 NIV)
Later Jesus went to Jerusalem. He talked about water during the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem.
“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7: 37-38 NIV)
Warsaw Ghetto
Nazi Germany attacked Poland on September 1, 1939. Less than a month later the city of Warsaw fell completely. As thousands of people were killed and the city demolished, the position of the Jews changed. Already in January 1940, synagogues were closed.
On Yom Kippur, falling on October 12, 1940, Germans announced the establishment of a ghetto. This was terrifying. Coming to a major holiday and hearing the announcement – this as not by chance. Warsaw’s Jews were to move to a confined space. They had to leave their neighbors, their houses, and their friends. Life, as they had known, was over. It was terrifying.
They may not have known it at the time, but this was the first stage of destruction to the Jewish Community in Warsaw.
We have just observed Yom Kippur preceding Sukkot. It was a solemn day of fasting and praying. We prayed for help for Israel. Israel still needs strength. Israel still needs our payers.
May we continue in prayer!
*For an explanation of the terms see the first The Torah Portion Blog.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Genesis 1:3 NIV
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Psalm 119:105 NIV
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
Isaiah 60:1 NIV
…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 NIV
Torah Scrolls were attacked and desecrated during the Holocaust. The enduring images of the Kristallnacht (November 9-10,1938) are those of synagogues on fire and Torah Scrolls burning. Some of these desecrated Torah Scrolls disappeared, others were buried. Some were lovingly rescued and are on display in museums in various locations.
