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Sukkoth
'Thou shall dwell in the sukkah for seven days' the torah commands and the Samaritans obey. Up to the 16th century, Samaritans tended to build their Sukkoth next to their homes, on open ground. The sukkah stood on four wooden pillars while date palms are being used as a roof. In the sukkah one could find the whole family and the four species. However, duo to frictions with the Ottoman authorities, it was not uncommon for the Samaritans to discover their Sukkoth (also Hebrew for multiple form of Sukkah) in shatters and even desecrated with impure animal carcasses by rejecters of our religious and their Arab neighbors, occasionally setting everything on fire. Unable to bare it any longer, the Samaritans began constructing their sukkoth inside their living rooms.
The wooden pillars were replaced with iron rods which support the metal frame on which the Samaritans waive a spectacular and aromatic rug of citruses. On top of that, date palms, myrtle and willow branches, and a citron placed in the center. Over the years, the Samaritans enlarged their Sukkoth, decorating and illuminating them, even devising elaborate forms and textures using the various fruits hanging in their living room in the course of the holiday.
Even before the dawn of Sukkoth eve, the Samaritans ascend to
During the holiday, Samaritans generously host their guests in their homes which throughout that time are open to all. At dusk, Samaritans attend a praying service, as they will do also on the next dawn and throughout the entire holiday. At the end of the holiday, they dismantle their Sukkoth and contribute the fruits (lemons, grenades, grapefruits, sweet peppers) to the needy.
The Sabbath day of Sukkoth slightly differs from a regular Sabbath. On this day the order of the prayers changes and so does their content. The Sukkoth Sabbath Morning Prayer service may be held over eight hours, beginning at 2:00 A.M.
Following that service, the worshipers gather around one table in one of the households, feasting on various salads (cooking on Sabbath or sabbatical holidays is prohibited) and lifting up the spirits with wine or homemade high quality Arrack and various festive chants.
The Samaritan kitchen is rich with unique and traditional dishes yet no preference exists for particular dishes on particular holidays, instead, the families decide for themselves what will be served on this or other occasion according their own culinary preferences.
Simcha-Torah (Shemini Atzeret)
One week after Shavuot, Samaritans celebrate Simcha-Torah. This of course is a sabbatical holiday. At the end of the morning service the priests take the Torah book outside the synagogue, walking around the Samaritan neighborhood as a crowd of worshipers follows them with chants, dances and drums. At the end of Simcha-Torah the books are put back in the synagogue.
On this day the Samaritans mark the closure of the festivities period which begins with Rosh-Hashana (head of the seventh month).
Samaritan Simcha-Torah parade, carrying Torah scrolls
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