USHPIZIN

(Aramaic: visitors), according to the Jewish Kabbalistic book the Sefer ha-zohar (Book of Splendour), seven ancient worthies who take turns visiting the homes of all pious Jews to share their dinner on the festival of Sukkoth. A custom developed of reciting a fixed formula of invitation to the seven: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, and David. Poor scholars are sometimes invited to join the family dinner as representatives of the ushpizin.