Water, Water Everywhere

Sukkot is considered the holiday on which God determines the world’s water allotment for the year to come. During the time of the Temple, the week of Sukkot was highlighted by the water libation ceremony, during which water was poured over the altar after the morning offering. The ceremony actually lasted all night and was known as the Simchat Beit Hashoevah, the Celebration of the House of the Water Drawing.

The Simchat Beit Hashoevah was such a joyous and wonderful event that the sages wrote of it in the Talmud, (Sukkot 51a) “Whoever did not see this celebration [the Simchat Beit Hashoevah] never saw a celebration in his day.”

Here is a description of the how it was celebrated in the Temple: The Temple was set up for the Simchat Beit Hashoevah. Three balconies were erected in the women’s section and the men would stand in a courtyard below, allowing more people to attend. Golden lamps were placed in the courtyard that gave off enough light to illuminate the entire city. In the courtyard, men would dance as the Levites played instruments and sang praises to God. The kohanim, the priests, would then go to the Gichon Spring and draw the water to be used.

It is customary today, during the week of Sukkot, to attend or host a Simchat Beit Hashoevah celebration, which generally takes place in the sukkah.