parsha bit: Sukkot

[cellio]

The torah tells us to celebrate Sukkot because Israel dwelt in sukkot in the desert. The talmud records an argument about what those sukkot were. Rabbi Akiva said that they were physical booths, like we build today. Rabbi Eliezer disagreed, saying that the word "sukkot" refers to the clouds of glory, the divine presence that protected Israel. Both agree that the sukkot (whatever they were) signified Israel's special relationship with God. (Sukkot 11b)