(מב) בַּסֻּכֹּ֥ת תֵּשְׁב֖וּ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים כָּל־הָֽאֶזְרָח֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יֵשְׁב֖וּ בַּסֻּכֹּֽת׃ (מג) לְמַעַן֮ יֵדְע֣וּ דֹרֹֽתֵיכֶם֒ כִּ֣י בַסֻּכּ֗וֹת הוֹשַׁ֙בְתִּי֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּהוֹצִיאִ֥י אוֹתָ֖ם מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
(42) You shall live in booths [sukkot] seven days; all citizens in Israel shall live in booths, (43) in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I the LORD your God.
אלו דברים שאדם אוכל פרותיהם בעולם הזה והקרן קימת לו לעולם הבא, ואלו הן: כבוד אב ואם, וגמילות חסדים, והשכמת בית המדרש שחרית וערבית, והכנסת אורחים, וביקור חולים, והכנסת כלה, ולוית המת, ועיון תפלה, והבאת שלום בין אדם לחברו ובין איש לאישתו, ותלמוד תורה כנגד כלם.
"These are the deeds which yield immediate fruit and continue to yield fruit in time to come: honoring parents; doing deeds of lovingkindness; attending the house of study punctually, morning and evening; providing hospitality; visiting the sick; helping the needy bride; attending the dead; probing the meaning of prayer; making peace between one person and another, and between man and wife. And the study of Torah is the most basic of them all."
-Based on Shabbat 127a
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Each day of Sukkot we invite ushpizin (guests) into our sukkah, one pair on each night: Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Leah, Joseph and Rachel, Moses and Miriam, Aaron and Deborah, and David and Ruth. How are the above texts related to this custom? Why is it considered meritorious to welcome guests into our sukkah? When else do we ritually welcome guests as Jews, and why?
TO-DO: With your hevruta or group, create a ritual in which you welcome newcomers to your sukkah or home. It could take the form of a special service, ritual, or another action. Be creative!