The Festival of the Water Libation

One of the main aspects of the holiday of Sukkot (Tabernacles) is the Biblical commandment, “And you shall be glad on your holiday, and you shall be only joyful” (Deut. 16:14). Indeed, the pilgrims who arrived in Jerusalem at the Temple’s courtyard came to rejoice. The focus of this rejoicing was the ceremony surrounding the commandment to pour water on the altar – the water libation. During this event, which mainly took place in the Women’s Court, the levites and played on many musical instruments.

The sages of Israel testify to the celebrations of the water libation from the days of the Second Temple, describing the great joy of the ceremony:

“Whoever has not seen the celebration of the water libation has never experienced the feeling of true joy – great lamps of gold were hoisted, with four golden bowls at the top of each lamp. Four young priests-in-training would climb to the top, carrying immense oil jugs with which they would fill the bowls. Once lighted, there was not a courtyard in all of Jerusalem that did not glow with the light that emanated from the celebration in the Temple courtyard.

As the people sang, the righteous and pious men would dance before them while juggling flaming torches. The levites, standing on the fifteen steps that descend from the Court of Israel to the Women’s Court, played on lyres, harps, trumpets and many other instruments. Two priests who blew silver trumpets stood at the top of the stairs on either side of the entrance to the great gate of the Court.

All this was done to honor the commandment of the water libation.”

(based on Mishna, Tractate Sukkah, Chapter 5)