What Sukkot is about
Sukkah of Nathalie and Olivier Cuoq, Lyon, France
Succot means Feast of Tabernacles. It is celebrated on the 15th of Tishrei in the Jewish calendar (late September to late October in the secular calendar).
During this holiday, which lasts 7 days in Israel (8 in the diaspora), a Succa- a dwelling with an organic-material roof- should be built in every Jewish household, a reminiscence of the fragile dwellings in which the Israelites lived in their 40 years in the desert after their departure from Egypt.
Laws of Sukkot
The first day (two first days in the diaspora) of Sukkot are holidays, with specific prayers and meals. The remaining days are called Chol Hamoed (weekday festival), during which normal activities can resume but one should still take his meals in the Sukka.
My family traditions
Growing up in Lyon, I lived with my family in an apartment which wasn't convenient for building a sukka.
My Dad therefore never built one in France, we just used the one built at the synagogue.
It wasn't until we were adults, and that my sister Nathalie started building one with her husband Olivier in their frontyard, that we took the habit of eating under the sukkah. There was no real traditional recipe for Sukkot either in Algeria, we had to create own own. Nathalie likes to prepare an Alsacian Choucroute, I like the Curried Turkey Meatballs with potatoes recipe.
The only recipe we agree on for Sukkot is the Hen with Golden Eggs, which is a traditional recipe of Simha Torah in our family.
During this holiday, which lasts 7 days in Israel (8 in the diaspora), a Succa- a dwelling with an organic-material roof- should be built in every Jewish household, a reminiscence of the fragile dwellings in which the Israelites lived in their 40 years in the desert after their departure from Egypt.
Laws of Sukkot
The first day (two first days in the diaspora) of Sukkot are holidays, with specific prayers and meals. The remaining days are called Chol Hamoed (weekday festival), during which normal activities can resume but one should still take his meals in the Sukka.
My family traditions
Growing up in Lyon, I lived with my family in an apartment which wasn't convenient for building a sukka.
My Dad therefore never built one in France, we just used the one built at the synagogue.
It wasn't until we were adults, and that my sister Nathalie started building one with her husband Olivier in their frontyard, that we took the habit of eating under the sukkah. There was no real traditional recipe for Sukkot either in Algeria, we had to create own own. Nathalie likes to prepare an Alsacian Choucroute, I like the Curried Turkey Meatballs with potatoes recipe.
The only recipe we agree on for Sukkot is the Hen with Golden Eggs, which is a traditional recipe of Simha Torah in our family.