Key terms for the holidays of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.
Arava — Willow, one of the four species.
Arba minim — Literally “four species,” a quartet of plants used in Sukkot rituals: lulav, etrog, hadas, and arava. They symbolize joy for life and dedication to G-d. The four species are held and shaken during the Hallel service.
Etrog — Citron, one of the four species.
Geshem — Rain. An additional prayer for rain, Tefillat Geshem, is read on Shemini Atzeret in the fall, introduced in the poetic form of an alphabetic acrostic.
Hadas — Myrtle, one of the four species.
Hakafah — Literally “circuit,” a celebratory processional around the room done on Sukkot and Simchat Torah. On Sukkot hakafot (the Hebrew plural of hakafah) are done holding the four species, except on Shabbat. On Shemini Atzeret, the hakafot are done while singing, dancing, and carrying Torahs.
Hallel — Literally “praise” this short service is a collection of Psalms and blessings recited on festivals and Rosh Hodesh(the new moon) as a display of joy and gratitude.
Hol Hamoed — The intermediary days falling between the most sacred days of the festivals of Sukkot and Passover. These days have fewer prohibitions and commandments associated with them than the first and last days of the festivals.
Hoshanah Rabbah — Literally, “the Great Call for Help,” the seventh day of Sukkot during which hakafot are made and Hoshanot are recited. According to one tradition, it is the very last day for G-d to seal a judgment.
Hoshanot — Prayers of salvation that are chanted on Hoshanah Rabbah while holding the four species. At the end of the hakafot, each person takes a bundle of willow twigs and strikes it on the ground for symbolic purposes. Each prayer begins with the word hoshanah, which means, “Save, I pray.”
Kohelet —The Book of Ecclesiastes, a collection of wisdom, traditionally attributed to King Solomon. It is one of the five books from the part of the Bible called the Writings (Ketuvim) and is read on the intermediary Shabbat of Sukkot.
Lulav — Palm, one of the four species and also the name given to the general bundle of willow, myrtle, and palm branches.
Pitom — Literally “protuberance,” the bulging tip at the blossom end of the etrog. If it falls off naturally, the etrog is considered to be kosher. If it has been knocked off, the fruit is considered to have a blemish and thus be unfit for ritual use as one of the four species.
Shemini Atzeret — Literally “the Eighth Day of Gathering,” is the final day of Sukkot, which holds special significance as its own holiday. Jews thank G-d for the harvest and ask for winter rain to prepare the ground for spring planting.
Simchat Torah — Literally “rejoicing in the Torah,” the holiday that celebrates both the end and renewal of the annual cycle of reading the Torah. Typically, the congregation takes the Torah scrolls from the ark and parades with them in circles (hakafot) around the perimeter of the sanctuary.
Skhakh — The roofing of the sukkah, which is made from natural materials such as bamboo or palm branches.
Sukkah — Literally “hut” or “booth,” a temporary structure that is built in order to be dwelt in for the duration of the holiday of Sukkot. Its purpose is to commemorate the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt and to make a symbolic gesture that acknowledges humankind’s reliance upon G-d. The construction of a sukkah follows a set of specific regulations.
Ushpizin — Literally “guests,” the biblical guests that the Zohar teaches are to be invited into the sukkah (along with the poor) during each night of Sukkot. Traditionally these seven guests are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, and David. Today many people add the names of women to the list.
Zman Simchateinu — Literally “the time of our rejoicing,” an expression often used when referring to the days of Sukkot.
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