Sukkot is a Jewish harvest festival. It is also known as The Feast of Tabernacles. Tabernacles is an old word, meaning 'huts'.

The Torah says that after the Jews left Egypt, they were in the desert for forty years. They lived in temporary homes called Sukkot. This was a very important time for the Jews. They faced many dangers but learned a lot about how to survive and how to trust God.

The festival of Sukkot lasts a week. In countries where it is warm enough, Jews build a hut or sukkah in their garden or, if they live in a flat, on the balcony or the roof. They have all their meals in the sukkah and some Jews sleep there as well. Most synagogues also have a big sukkah in the grounds or on the roof, where people eat and drink after services. Living in a sukkah reminds Jews of the time they wandered in the desert with no proper home and helps them feel close to nature.

The most important part of the sukkah is the roof. This is made with branches and hung with fruit. The roof must have a gap in it that is big enough for the sky to be seen.

In many countries, including Britain, there are people without homes and at Sukkot Jews give money to help the homeless.

Sukkot is a special time for welcoming visitors. Jews like to have lots of guests for dinner in their sukkah.

During Sukkot there is a special service at the synagogue. Some people wave branches all around to show that God is everywhere. The branches come from palm, myrtle and willow trees. The people hold the branches in their right hand. In their left hand, they hold a citron. A citron is a yellow fruit, rather like a lemon.

Each of the things which they carry are like parts of the human body. The palm is like the spine. The myrtle leaves are shaped like an eye. The willow leaves are in the shape of lips. The citron is a bit like a heart. Joining them together reminds Jews that they must worship God with every part of their body.