Palm Branches for Sukkot in Jerusalem’s Old City #jerusalem #israel #sukkot #holyland

Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, is one of the most joyful and meaningful festivals in the Jewish calendar. Celebrated only a few days after Yom Kippur, it brings a shift from solemn reflection to gratitude, joy, and remembrance. The holiday recalls the time when the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years after the Exodus from Egypt, living in temporary shelters and depending on God’s care and protection. To remember this journey, Jewish families build a sukkah—a temporary hut with a roof made of natural branches that allows the stars to be seen through the gaps. The roof of the sukkah, called schach, holds deep symbolic value. It represents both the fragility of human life and the divine shelter provided by God. According to tradition, the covering must be made from materials that grow from the ground but are no longer attached to it—branches, reeds, or palm fronds. In Jerusalem, the municipality helps provide this essential part of the sukkah by trimming palm trees around the city. These cut branches are then made available for families to use in building their sukkot. In the Old City of Jerusalem, this balance between daily life and spiritual tradition is especially visible. The ancient walls and narrow streets come alive with preparations for the festival. Palm branches, trimmed and collected, become not just practical material but a link between the city’s landscape and its timeless faith. Sukkot also carries a universal message. It is known as the “Festival of Ingathering,” marking the end of the harvest season in Israel. It calls people to rejoice, to welcome guests into the sukkah, and to remember dependence on both the earth and the Creator. The sukkah itself is a place of unity—fragile yet filled with strength, temporary yet full of eternal meaning. This short video captures a glimpse of that preparation in Jerusalem’s Old City: palm branches being gathered and balanced, symbolizing both the physical work of the season and the spiritual beauty of Sukkot. #sukkot #jerusalem #oldcity #palmbranches #sukkah #holiday #faith #tradition #israel #tourguide #zahishaked