This Year the Holiday of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah begins Monday night September 20, 2021 at Sunset (6:42 pm Philadelphia Time) – Ends on September 29, 2021 after Nightfall (7:25 pm Philadelphia)

A VERY VERY SIMPLE GUIDE TO SUKKOT CELEBRATON

(In honor of Sukkot, please print BEFORE the Holiday begins -This Document contains G-d’s Name, therefore it may NOT be thrown out)

For more information visit: Sukkot – Sukkot & Simchat Torah (chabad.org)

and PIT071_Sukkot5771_F.indd (partnersintorah.org)

As soon as the solemn day of Yom Kippur is behind us, we focus on the traditions of the upcoming joyous holiday of Sukkot. We build a temporary house called Sukkah, which reminds us of the Clouds of Glory with which G-d surrounded the Jewish people in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt.

It is very special to experience a meal in a Sukkah and to ‘shake’ The Four Species (Lulav, Etrog, Aravot and Hadassim). If you have never done either before, visit http://www.cbscommunitycenter.com

You can also visit www.Chabad.org to find a synagogue near you where you can be accommodated.

Elevating the Mundane

When we do a mitzvah (a commandment), we elevate ourselves, the object with which we did the mitzvah, and our environment. Most commandments are focused only on limited aspects of our being and limited dimensions of our environment. However, when it comes to dwelling in a Sukkah, not only is the entire body enveloped by the mitzvah, but so are the most mundane aspects of life. After all, by eating, drinking or even reading a good book in the Sukkah, we perform a mitzvah that encompasses our entire body!

Evening Kiddush for both Monday and Tuesday Nights 

UNIQUE FEATURES OF SUKKOT 

On Sukkot there is a special Mitzvah to dwell in special hut called a Sukkah. Therefore one should eat and if one is able to even sleep in this holy abode.  

A Sukkah is a hut built to provide shade. That’s why it must sit beneath the open sky—not under a patio deck or even the branches of a tree. The walls can be made of any material, as long as they are secure and don’t flap about in the wind. The roof, however, (we call it s’chach), must be of unprocessed materials which have grown from the ground. Bamboo poles, thin wooden slats, and evergreen branches are popular choices. We make sure to use enough s’chach so that the inside of the sukkah has more shade than sunlight. 

On Sukkot, along with the mitzvah of dwelling in the Sukkah comes the Scriptural obligation of “taking” the Four Species as instructed by the verse, “On the first day, you must take for yourself a fruit of the citron tree, an unopened palm frond, myrtle branches and willows of the brook.” 

_{We SHAKE the Four species on all days of Sukkot except Shabbat}  

The Four Species are co-dependent, and if one of the four is missing, the mitzvah is not fulfilled. In total, seven individual items are required for the mitzvah: 

1. One Lulav 

2. One Etrog 

3. Two Aravot 

4. Three Hadassim 

Why are these four plants used instead of other plants? There are two primary explanations of the symbolic significance of these plants: that they represent different parts of the body, or that they represent different kinds of Jews. 

According to the first interpretation, the long straight palm branch represents the spine. The myrtle leaf, which is a small oval, represents the eye. The willow leaf, a long oval, represents the mouth, and the Etrog fruit represents the heart. 

All of these parts have the potential to be used for sin, but should join together in the performance of commandments and bring Divine Light into the world. 

According to the second interpretation, the Etrog, which has both a pleasing taste and a pleasing scent, represents Jews who have achieved both knowledge of Torah and performance of mitzvot (commandments). The palm branch, which produces tasty fruit, but has no scent, represents Jews who have knowledge of Torah but are lacking in mitzvot. The myrtle leaf, which has a strong scent but no taste, represents Jews who perform mitzvot but have little knowledge of Torah. The willow, which has neither taste nor scent, represents Jews who have no knowledge of Torah and do not perform the mitzvot. 

We bring all four of these species together on Sukkot to remind us that every one of these four kinds of Jews is important, and that we must all be united. 

The Blessing for the Four Species 

Take the etrog in your left hand with the stem (green tip) up and the pitam (brown tip) down. Take the lulav (including the palm, myrtle and willow branches bound together) in your right hand. Bring your hands together and recite the blessing below.

Barukh atah A-do-nai, Eloheinu, melekh ha-olam asher kidishanu b’mitz’votav v’tzivanu al n’tilat lulav (Amein) Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to take up the lulav (Amen)    First Day Only Add:   Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha’olam shehecheyanu v’kiyimanu v’higi’anu laz’man hazeh. Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign king of the universe who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season (Amen)        After you recite the blessing, turn the etrog so the stem is down and the pitom is up. (Be careful not to damage the pitom)    With the lulav and etrog together, gently shake forward (East) three times, then pull the lulav and etrog back in front of your chest. Repeat this to the right (South), then over your right shoulder (West), then to the left (North), then up, then down.

• Simchat Torah
  
  Sukkot is the only holiday that really encompasses two holidays: Seven days of Sukkot and 2 Days of Shemini Atzeret [upon which we celebrate Simchat Torah on the second day]. These final two days begin at sundown on September 27, 2021 (6:30 pm Philadelphia)  until nightfall on September 29. (7:25 pm Philadelphia)
  
   
  
  On this final day, it is customary to conclude and then immediately begin the annual cycle of Torah reading.
  
  The highlight of this holiday is the boisterous singing and dancing in the synagogue, as the Torah scrolls are paraded in circles around.
  
   
  
  Although the eighth day follows Sukkot, it is actually an independent holiday in many respects (we no longer take the Four Kinds or dwell in the sukkah). Jews outside of Israel still eat in the sukkah on the first of the two days of Shmini Atzeres.
   
  
  The intermediate days (September 23, 24  and 26  until sundown on 27) are quasi holidays, known as Chol Hamoed, except for Shabbath, 25th.
  
  One is permitted to drive and use electricity but should still act in ways fitting for a Holiday.
  
    

Water and Joy 

On Sukkot, G‑d determines how much rain will fall that winter (the rainy season in Israel). Thus while every sacrifice in the Temple included wine libations poured over the altar, on Sukkot, water was also poured over the altar in a special ceremony. This ritual engendered such joy that it was celebrated with music, dancing and singing all night long. This celebration was called was “Simchat Beit Hasho’evah.” 

Even today, when there is no Temple, it is customary to hold nightly celebrations that include singing and dancing (and even live music during the intermediate days of the holiday). 

Inspirational Story 

As we begin the New Year, we are humbled by the realization how dependent we are on our Creator. As we sit in the Sukkah during the Holiday of Sukkot, we are meant to ponder upon just how fragile our lives really are and how appreciative we must be of getting a gift of another year of Life. As the following true story illustrates. 

Had this not happened to me I would never have believed it. I was driving my smart car one day in Borough Park in New York  and for those of you that don’t know, a smart car is small and lightweight car. I stopped at a red light but I was daydreaming and when it became green I did not start driving right away. The driver in the car behind me – let’s call him Mr. Lexus – was very impatient and started honking his horn. As I started driving down the next block Mr. Lexus started to tailgate me and was overall acting in a very aggressive manner. Not wanting to be harassed I pulled over to the side and let Mr. Lexus move in front of me. 

As we came to the very next intersection the light was green and the Mr. Lexus rightfully proceeded to enter the intersection. When he was in middle the intersection a tow truck driving at 50 mph ran a red light and T-boned Mr. Lexus. The impact flipped Mr. Lexus’s car and send it tumbling over forty feet. Had I not moved over to let Mr. Lexus pass me, then I would have been in the intersection, and a driver of a smart car does not survive when a tow truck hits it at 50 mph. 

All of this started with the little detail of me having a daydream in my car. I guess what I am trying to say is that we sometimes have this idea that G-d is busy with the big issues of the world, the natural disasters, the climate change, and geopolitics. This story showed me that G-d is also involved in our day-to-day lives, and even a small detail like me getting harassed by an aggressive driver, was all part of a plan that was ultimately for my best. I came out of this not only shaken up because I almost lost my life but because I realized how precious and fragile life is. Enjoy every moment! 

For  a 2 minute video of Sukkot please visit: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoTMrJ8yUWM&feature=youtu.be