According to the book of Leviticus, the purpose of the festival of Sukkot—which began last Friday evening—is, “That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths [sukkot], when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” Rabbi Jonathan Sacks observed that this straightforward explanation for what might seem like a simple harvest festival raises a host of questions. Why aren’t these booths mentioned elsewhere in the Bible? Why is this aspect of the Exodus celebrated at this time of year? Why did Solomon merge Sukkot with a festival for the dedication of the Temple? To answer these questions and many others, Sacks, in a 2016 lecture, turned to the book of Ecclesiastes, which many Jewish communities read in synagogue on the Sabbath that falls during the holiday. (Video, 53 minutes.)
Read more on The Rabbi Sacks Legacy: https://www.rabbisacks.org/videos/lessons-of-kohelet/