A Very Very Simple Guide for Sukkot Celebration
What Is Sukkot? – A Guide to the Jewish Holiday of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Meanings Behind It – Chabad.org OR Sukkot 2025 | Aish
(This Document contains G-d’s Name, therefore it may NOT be thrown out)
After coming so close to G-d during Yom Kippur, we become like ‘angels’ that need special protection and closeness to G-d. Sukkot, remind us of the Clouds of Glory with which G-d surrounded the Jewish people in the desert after the Exodus from . Ever since that time, we remember G-d’s kindness and reaffirm our trust in His protection by building a temporary hut called “Sukkah”. This dwelling becomes our home for the duration of the holiday. We eat our meals in the Sukkah and try to spend there as much time as possible. This temporary structure also hints upon the fact that life is uncertain and ‘shaky’ and the only real protection comes from our relationship to our Creator.
Another interesting commandment related to Sukkott has to do with Four Species.
The Torah instructs us to take up four species in hand to celebrate Sukkoth. The first three (willow, palm, and myrtle) are bound together and collectively called a lulav. The fourth is the etrog (citron), a sweet smelling citrus fruit.
A famous interpretation of the four species likens each to a body part: the etrog is the human heart; the palm fronds are the spine; the myrtle is the eyes; the willow is the mouth. Just as one waves all four species before God on Sukkot, so too one uses all the parts of one’s body to worship and serve God: heart, spine, eyes, and mouth. Together, the four species are shaken in six directions during Hallel, signifying that God is found everywhere.
It is a very special to experience a meal in a Sukkah! Call local synagogue at 215 671-1981 or visit www.Chabad.org to find a location near you.
My video in Russian https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czN9RjqG2gI
Lighting Candles
Women (or if there isn’t a woman in the house, the head of the household), light candles. Light a 24-hour candle before the holiday begins and light second night, September 26th from the existing candle.
For exact times please visit:
http://www.chabad.org/calendar/zmanim_cdo/aid/143790/jewish/Halachic-Times-Zmanim.htm
Blessing for the evenings September 25th (6:34 pm time)
and for October 2 (6:22 pm time)
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam asher ki-deshanu be-mitzvo-tav ve-tzvi-vanu le-hadlik ner shel Shabat v Yom Tov
1. Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to light the candle of Shabath and the .
2. Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam she-heche-ya-nu ve-ki-yi-ma-nu ve-higi-a-nu liz-man ha-zeh.
Blessed are You, L-ord our G-d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.
Blessings for the evening September 26th (after 7:31 pm Time)
and for October 2 (after 7:19 pm time)
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam asher ki-deshanu be-mitzvo-tav ve-tzvi-vanu le-hadlik ner shel Yom Tov
1. Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to light the candle of nd the .
2. Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam she-heche-ya-nu ve-ki-yi-ma-nu ve-higi-a-nu liz-man ha-zeh.
Blessed are You, L-ord our G-d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.
Evening Kiddush
Kiddush is recited while holding a cup of kosher wine or grape juice.
For September 25th and October 2nd:
Yom hashishi. Vayechulu hashamayim v’ha’aretz v’chol tzva’am.
Vayechal Elokim bayom hashvi’i melachto asher asah, vayishbot bayom hashvi’i mikol melachto asher asah.
Vayevarech Elokim et yom hashvi’i vayekadesh oto, ki vo shavat mikol melachto asher bara Elokim la’asot.
And evening came, then morning came: the sixth day. The heavens and the earth were completed and [so were] all their hosts. And God completed, by the seventh day, His work which He had done; and He abstained on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, for on it He abstained from all His work which God had created to do.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, borei p’ri hagafen.
Blessed are You, Ado-noy our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
Barukh atah A-do-nai, Elohaynu, melekh ha-olam asher bachar banu mee-kol am, v’rom’manu mee-kol lashon v’kee’d’shanu b’meetzvotav, va-teeten lanu, A-do-nai Elohaynu, b’ahavah shabatot lee-m’nuchah u’mo’adeem l’seemchah,chageem u-z’maneem l’sason, et yom ha-shabbat hazeh v’et yom
(for September 25: chag ha-Sukkot hazeh)
(for October 2nd: et yom hashmini chag ha’Atzeret hazeh)
z’man seemchateinu b’ahava meekra kodesh, zeicher leetzeeyat meetz’rayeem Ki Vanu Vacharta V’osanu Keedashtsa shabat U-mo’aday Kadsh’kha b’ahavah u’v’ratzon b’simchah u-v’sason hin’chal’tanu. Barukh atah Adonai, m’kadesh ha-shabat v’Yisra’el v’ha-z’manim. (Amein)
Blessed are you, Lord, our God, king of the universe who has chosen us from among all people, and exalted us above every tongue and sanctified us with His commandments, and you gave us, Lord our God, with love Sabbaths for rest, and appointed festivals for gladness, festivals and times for joy, this day of Sabbath and this day of the festival of Sukkot, the time of our gladness with love a holy convocation, a memorial of the exodus from Egypt Indeed, You have chosen us and made us holy among all peoples and the Sabbath and your holy festivals in love and favor in gladness and in joy you have given us for an inheritance Blessed are You, who sanctifies the shabbat and Israel and the seasons. (Amen)
Before drinking the wine sit down and say the following blessing for the Sukkah on September 2nd:
Baruch atah A-donoy, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam, asher kidshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu Leishev baSukah
Blessed are you, Lord, our G-d, sovereign king of the universe who sanctified us through His mitzvah of dwelling in the Sukkah
On both nights continue:
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)
Pour some wine into a separate cup for guests and then drink the rest yourself without talking.
For September 26th and October 3rd:
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, borei p’ri hagafen.
Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, asher bachar banu mikol am, v’rom’manu mikol lashon, v’kid’shanu b’mitzvotav.
Vatiten lanu Adonai Eloheinu b’ahavah mo’adim l’simchah, chagim uz’manim l’sason, et yom
(for September 26 hasukkos)
(for October 3rd haShmini Atzeret haChag) hazeh, z’man simchateinu, mikra kodesh, zecher litziat Mitzrayim.
Ki vanu vacharta v’otanu kidashta mikol ha’amim, umo’adei kodshecha b’simchah uv’sason hinchaltanu.
Baruch atah Adonai, mekadesh Yisrael v’hazmanim.
Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, who chose us from among every nation, elevated us above every tongue, and sanctified us through His commandments.
You have lovingly given us festivals for joy, holidays and seasons for gladness; this day of
(for September 26th -Sukkot)
(for October 3rd – Shemini Atzeret),
this Festival, this season of our rejoicing, a holy convocation, a remembrance of the Exodus from Egypt.
For You chose us and sanctified us from among all the nations, and Your holy festivals You gave us as an inheritance with joy and gladness.
Blessed are You, Hashem, who sanctifies Israel and the appointed times.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, borei m’orei ha’eish.
Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, who creates the lights of fire.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, hamavdil bein kodesh l’chol, bein or la’choshech, bein Yisrael la’amim, bein yom hashvi’i l’sheshet y’mei hama’aseh.
Bein kedushat Shabbat likedushat Yom Tov hivdalta, v’et yom hashvi’i mishéshet y’mei hama’aseh kidashta.
Hivdalta v’kidashta et amcha Yisrael bikdushatecha.
Baruch atah Adonai, hamavdil bein kodesh l’kodesh.
Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe,
who distinguishes between holy and ordinary, between light and darkness, between Israel and the nations, and between the seventh day and the six days of work.
Between the holiness of Shabbat and the holiness of Yom Tov You have distinguished,
and You have sanctified the seventh day from the six days of work.
You have distinguished and sanctified Your people Israel with Your holiness.
Blessed are You, Hashem, who distinguishes between one holiness and another.
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)
ROUND Challah in Honey
Immediately following the kiddush, we perform the ritual washing for bread. Fill a large cup with water. Pass the cup to your left hand and pour three times over your right hand. Repeat by pouring on your left hand. As you wipe your hands recite the blessing:
Baruch atah A-donoy, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam, asher kidshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu al netilat yadayim.
When everyone has returned to the table, we raise the two challah loaves and recite the blessing:
Ba-ruch atah A-do-nay, E-lo-hei-nu Melech Ha-Olam, hamotzie le-chem min ha-are-tz.
[Blessed are You, L-rd, our G‑d, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.]
Cut the challah, dip it in honey, and have a bite. Pass around pieces and make sure everyone does the same.
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 for Shabbat, September 26th. Last time to shake is before Sunset on October 2nd
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 of shaking the Lulav 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.
Seven Guests
Sukkah generates an intense concentration of spiritual energy. During Sukkot the souls of the seven great leaders of –Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph, and King David – actually leave Heavenly realm to partake in the Divine Light of Sukkot. Collectively these transcendent guests are known as Ushpizin, the Aramaic word meaning “guests.”
Each of the seven Ushpizin correspond to a fundamental spiritual pathway through which the world is perfected
- Abraham represents love and kindness
- Isaac represents restraint and personal strength
- Jacob represents beauty and truth
- Moses represents eternality and dominance through Torah
- Aaron represents empathy and receptivity to divine splendor
- Joseph represents holiness and the spiritual foundation
- David represents the establishment of the on Earth
We can connect to these energies and learn from our great leaders.
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 October 2nd (at 6:14 pm Philadelphia Time) until nightfall on October 4th. (7;10 pm Time)
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 still eat in the sukkah on the first of the two days of Shmini Atzeres.
The intermediate days (September 28, 29, 30, October1, 2 until sundown (Shabath) at 6:14 pm) are quasi holidays, known as Chol Hamoed.
One is permitted to drive and use electricity but should still act in ways fitting for a .
Water and Joy
On Sukkot, G‑d determines how much rain will fall that winter (the rainy season in ). Thus while every sacrifice in the 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 , 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
There is a song based on the story of a little boy named Avraham who grew up to become the world famous Jewish activist Abe Foxman (Chairman of the Anti Defamation League for almost three decades). Avraham (Abe) was born on May 1, 1940 in . When the Germans invaded a few months later, they herded the Jews in the ghetto, and Foxman’s parents decided to leave him with his Catholic nanny. She adopted him, baptized him and gave him a new first name and her own last name. For all intents and purposes, he grew up as a Catholic in through the years 1940-1944.
When his parents returned after the war, the nanny did not want to return the child, and it took a series of court battles in the Russian legal system for the parents to obtain custody. By that time, he was a good Catholic boy, to the extent that he had even been taught to hate Jews – and he informed his parents that he didn’t plan to change.
His father wanted to introduce him to Judaism and the opportunity arrived on Simchat Torah 1945; his father hoped that a day like this would be the right moment.
On the way to the synagogue – Abe retold many years later – they passed the monastery, and he crossed himself and ran to kiss the hand of the priest who emerged from the building. His father was obviously unhappy, but he did not say a word.
They arrived at the synagogue, which was actually just a ruin now with no Torah scrolls or any holly books and less than a minyan in attendance. As they entered, little Avraham drew the attention of a Jew in a Russian soldier’s uniform. This Russian soldier approached Avrahams father and asked if he could lift Avraham on his shoulders to dance with him. The soldier danced with him all evening.
This story was told by Abe Foxman himself at an event at Yad Vashem in . One researcher was deeply moved by the story, and decided to look for the soldier who had danced with Abe that night.
She soon discovered that there is a song written by Abie Rotenberg, which tells about an elderly Jew he met traveling back from a wedding in The Man From Vilna – Shulem and Yanky Lemmer (youtube.com). This fellow, who was a holocaust survivor from , clearly had difficulty walking, so Abie asked the old man why he bothered to travel to weddings altogether. The man answered that traveling to weddings was never a hassle; he was overjoyed to participate. This was his story:
He was a Russian soldier in right after the war, and he decided to go to the synagogue on Simchat Torah. There were no Torah scrolls to dance with, but he noticed a little boy entering the synagogue. This was the first time in a very long time that he had seen a Jewish child… He lifted the child on his shoulders and danced with him all evening, declaring “this Jewish child will be our Torah!”
The researcher reached out to Abie Rotenberg, who connected her with that Holocaust survivor. It was really him – Leo Goldman, a rabbi in . In 2010, sixty-five years after they danced together at Simchat Torah in , Abe Foxman reunited with Rabbi Leo Goldman.
Leo’s perspective: When World War II broke out, Leo Goldman was a 19-year-old yeshiva student in . In the beginning of the war, the Russians took over his town and recruited him into the Red Army to fight the Nazis. In one battle, he was wounded and sent to a hospital in where he remained hospitalized for a long time.
In , he met a Jewish girl and they married after the war, and when they left , they came to to search for living relatives. They arrived in the city during the holiday season, and on Simchat Torah, Leo decided to go to the synagogue, a shell of its previous beautiful self. There, he saw this little boy, and he realized that during all his travels from to — thousands of miles – he had seen hundreds of destroyed Jewish communities, and not a single Jewish child!
He took the child in lieu of a Torah scroll, and turned to the others and said, “Let’s dance with this child – he symbolizes the future of the Jewish people.”
In the spirit of Abe and Leo I believe we can dance once again this Simchat Torah and we will do so holding (special cards) with the names of those who died, we will be their bodies and they will be our souls as we come together to dance with the Torah scrolls in Spiritgrow. The Torah that has been with us through all our highs and lows as a nation.
For a 2 minute video of Sukkot please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoTMrJ8yUWM&feature=youtu.be