Sukkot, Armageddon and Zechariah 12:10
Let’s look at a fascinating insight into the upcoming Sukkot celebration.
Hi, I’m Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz, founder of Jews for Judaism, speaking from Jerusalem
After reaffirming our connection with God on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we demonstrate our trust in God by leaving the safety of our homes for the temporary outdoor dwelling, or sukkah.
Its fragile roof of branches reminds us that true protection does not come from the structures we build but from God Himself.
During Sukkot we read about the war of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38 through 39. While some religions see this as Armageddon or the apocalypse, Judaism views it differently.
In fact, according to some opinions, the devastation of exile and World wars has already fulfilled this prophecy.
Nevertheless, we continue to face the spiritual struggle of Gog and Magog.
Fittingly, “Gog” and “Magog” share the root of the Hebrew word for “roof” [gag], symbolizing the false belief that security comes solely from our own efforts, “putting a roof over our heads” so to speak, rather than from God.
Dwelling in a sukkah proclaims our trust in God, and as it says in Psalms 115:9, “trust in God, He is your helper and shield.”
Additionally, Psalms 100:2, commands us to “serve God with joy,” and trusting in God arouses joy, as it says in Psalms 28:7, “my heart trusts in Him…Therefore, my heart rejoices.”
This expression of trust explains, in part, why Sukkot is called zeman simchateinu—“the time of our rejoicing”—so much so that the sages said that anyone who did not see the Temple celebrations “never saw joy in his life” (Sukkah 52b).
However, joy must be directed properly.
Because “joy breaks boundaries,” the sages instituted a respectful and mutually agreed upon separation of men and women during the Temple’s Sukkot celebration.
They based this on Zechariah 12:10–12, which foretells that in the future the Jewish people will mourn their fallen martyrs, with men and women mourning separately.
The sages understood that if separation is fitting at a funeral, it is even more necessary during the heightened joy of Sukkot.
A correct reading of this text refutes a common missionary claim.
Christian bibles mistranslate Zechariah 12:10 as, “they will look upon Me whom they pierced,” implying Jesus is both God and the one who is pierced. In truth, the Hebrew should be translated, “They will look to Me (God) concerned the (martyrs) who were pierced.”
An additional refutation is that Jesus was never mourned with all men and women separated.
Even more revealing, the New Testament, John 19:34-37 states that it was a Roman soldier, not the Jews, who pierced Jesus while other Roman soldiers looked upon him.
These inconsistencies expose the fallacy of the missionary argument.
May we soon see the day when truth prevails and mourning is transformed into rejoicing, as it says in Psalms 30:11: “You turn my mourning into joyful dancing.”
I wish you a happy and meaningful Sukkot festival.
© 2025 Jews for Judaism
→ Get the book - Know What to Answer - When Someone Challenges Your Faith. Available on Amazon at: https://a.co/d/crv9E0L