It is Biblically mandated of observant Jews; they move out of their houses into temporary shelters once every year to remind themselves of the 40 years in the wilderness in tents - also called 'booths' or 'tabernacles'.
I presume that the Jews that you talked to were non-observant Jews - NOT speaking for all Jews. 🤷♂️
I think they were joking about it. They were also Messianic Jews, but I think they still observed the Jewish feast days.