Hands clapping, voices raised in song, bongos pounding, guitars strumming open chords, tambourines shaking wildly — this was the opening scene of the Feast of Tabernacles at Olive Tree Messianic Temple on Saturday night.
The Feast of Tabernacles, known as Sukkot in Hebrew, is a celebration that recognizes the 40 years the ancient Israelites spent living in the desert, according to the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America Web site (www.mjaa.org). The name “sukkot” is derived from the Hebrew word “sukkah,” which means booth or hut.
The feast, usually held on the 15th day of September or October, commemorates the pilgrimage made by Jews to the temple of Jerusalem. This is the fifth year the festival has been held in Albuquerque.
Scott Aaron, a member of Olive Tree Messianic Temple, brought his wife and children to this year’s festival. He said Sukkot festivals are increasingly rare.
“It’s an old Hebrew tradition, and this might be one of the last Sukkot festivals in the state,” he said.
Denis Otero, rabbi of Olive Tree, said the festival is significant to the Jewish community.
“It is a celebration of temporary shelter,” he said. “It’s a way to reconnect with the Messianic community. This festival in Israel would have been the equivalent to, like, the balloon fiesta or State Fair in Albuquerque. We’re trying to bring back that same festivity of community here.”
On Saturday, a procession of men clad in white shirts and black slacks circled the central festival tent a dozen times with banners representing the 12 tribes of Israel. Messianic Judaism draws from both mainstream Christianity and Judaism and shares many customs, traditions and beliefs from both religions, according to the
Messianic Jewish Alliance of America Web site. Although they observe Jewish law and holidays, Messianic Jews believe that Jesus, or Yeshua, is the resurrected Messiah.
Rabbi Otero’s mission with the festival is directly tied to this notion.
“This festival is really about celebrating the birth of Yeshua,” Otero said. “I want to bring back to the community a reminder that the Messiah was born at the Feast of Tabernacles, not Dec. 25, which most of us already know.”
As the festival continued through the night, there was dancing, traditional music, intermittent homilies and testaments from Olive Tree members, and the sharing of space and community.
Aaron said the feast is meant to bring unity to the Messianic Jewish community.
“The Feast of Tabernacles is like a harvest festival,” Aaron said. “Everyone comes together and we celebrate together.”
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