B"H
Tishrei 11, 5766 * October 14, 2005
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Y O U R S U K K O T H O L I D A Y G U I D E
5766 - 2005
http://www.JewishNewYear.org
Brought to you by: www.Chabad.org
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The Holidays of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeres and Simchat Torah begin this
year on Monday evening, October 17th, and continues until nightfall
of October 26th. What follows is a how-to guide to the basics of
Sukkot observance. For a more in-depth exploration of Sukkot,
please visit: http://www.jewishnewyear.org.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
> ABOUT
> TO DO
> CALENDAR
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** ABOUT **
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The Sukkah
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Following Yom Kippur we celebrate Sukkot, the Festival of Tabernacles, "the season of our rejoicing".
"In the Sukkot (booths) you shall dwell for seven days" (Leviticus, 23:42)
The Sukkot remind us of the clouds of glory that surrounded and protected our people, after leaving Egypt, during their forty years of wandering through the desert on the way to the promised land. It inspires us to believe that today too, G-d protects us in His special way, and that it why the Jewish people have outlived the greatest adversaries in all generations.
The commandment of dwelling, eating and spending time in the Sukkah is unique in that the entire person in involved in the commandment, or mitzvah. The mitzvah of Sukkah encompasses every part of the body. Every limb and cell of the person is completely submerged, surrounded and encompassed.
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The Four Kinds
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One of the special commandments of Sukkot is to take "The Four Kinds," the citrus, the palm branch, and the willow and myrtle branches. We hold them close together, recite a blessing and, as is customary, wave them to all the four winds, upward and downward.
Like all other commandments the mitzvah of Four Kinds should be performed because it is the will of G-d. However, it has its particular significance and meaning. One of the most known explanations is that the Four Kinds represent the unity of all Jews.
The citrus, or etrog, combines both delicious taste and a fragrance which is enjoyed by all. It represents the Jew who is both learned in Torah, as well as observant of the mitzvahs.
The palm branch, or lulav, is of a tree that bears fruit; dates with good taste, but is odorless. It represents those among Israel who are Torah scholars but do not particularly emphasize good deeds.
The myrtle twigs, or hadasim, are fragrant but tasteless. It represents Jews who are filled with good deeds but are not learned in Torah.
The branches of willow, or aravot, have neither taste nor smell. It represents those among Jews who are unlearned in Torah and void of good deeds.
Putting these four Kinds together teaches us that no one, not even the citrus or the palm branch can be complete without every single Jew - even without the willows. Without unity the citrus alone is no mitzvah at all.
We wave them on all sides to signify that G-d is everywhere.
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Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
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Simchat Torah and Shemini Atzeret are one day. Outside the Land of Israel, however, where all Festivals are observed for two days, they are separate. The first day is reserved for the joy of the Festival and for the prayers for rain, while the second day is reserved for the celebration of the conclusion of the cycle of reading from the Torah. (Some communities have the custom of making hakafot on Shemini Atzeret at night, to show that the two days are not actually two separate Festivals.) In Israel, where Simchat Torah is not celebrated on a separate day - since all Festivals are observed for a single day, the customs of Simchat Torah are observed together with those of Shemini Atzeret.
Simchat Torah comes on the last day of the festivities. At this time the last portion of the Torah is read, and since we never finish the Torah reading, we begin the reading from the very beginning again to show the Torah is beloved to us like a "new command to which everyone runs". This is a very happy occasion. All the Torah scrolls are taken from the Ark and carried in a parade around the synagogue seven times. We rejoice, sing and dance with the Torahs, for the reestablishment of our covenant with the Torah as a groom rejoices with his bride. For the Torah is betrothed to Israel as a wife is to her husband.
Children are given gifts of candy and fruit because it is stated that the "commandments of the L-rd are sweeter than honey."
The joyful dancing takes place the preceding evening as well as during the morning services.
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** TO DO **
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Eve of Sukkot, October 17, 2005
» Sukkah and Four Kinds
If you are planning on building a Sukkah, now is the time to complete it!
For info on how to build a Sukkah, click here:
http://www.chabad.org/4482
It is customary to prepare the "four kinds" for use on Sukkot, binding the three hadassim (myrtle twigs) and two aravot (willow twigs) to the lulav (palm frond), in the sukkah on the afternoon preceding the festival.
For info on how to bind the Four Kinds, click here: http://www.chabad.org/4564
» Candle Lighting
On the evenings of October 17, 18, 24 and 25, women and girls light candles to usher in the holiday, and recite the following blessings:
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 the Holiday.
[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.]
2) Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.
[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.]
Special instructions for Candle lighting on October 18 and 25:
Candles must be kindled from a pre-existing flame (such as from a pilot flame), as on the holiday one is not allowed to create a new flame. Candles should be lit after dark.
For candle lighting times in your city please click here: http://chabad.org/holidays/jewishnewyear/calendar_setup.asp
» Eat In the Sukkah
The holiday of Sukkot commemorates G-d's kindness to the Jewish people while in the desert at the time of the Exodus. We mark this kindness by eating in a Sukkah, a hut covered with branches, throughout the seven days of Sukkot, and by blessing the "Four Kinds".
The mitzvah of dwelling, eating and spending time in the Sukkah is unique in that the entire person is involved in a mitzvah. The mitzvah of Sukkah encompasses every part of the body. Every limb and cell of the person is completely submerged, surrounded and encompassed by the Sukkah.
One should attempt to eat in a Sukkah particularly the first night of Sukkot, to fulfill the Biblical commandment. When partaking of a meal in the Sukkah, containing at least two ounces of bread or cake, we say the following blessing:
Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to sit in the Sukkah.
[Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam Asher Kideshanu Bemitzvotav Vetzivanu Leshev Basukkah.]
For info on how to build a Sukkah click here:
http://www.chabad.org/4482
To find a Sukkah near you click here:
http://www.chabad.org/centers
» The Four Kinds
One of the special mitzvahs of Sukkot is to recite a blessing on the "The Four Kinds:" a citron, a palm branch, three myrtle twigs and two willow branches. We hold them close together, recite a blessing over them and, as is customary, wave them to all the four sides, upward and downward.
The blessing we say is:
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 hold the lulav.
[Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam Asher Ki-deshanu Be-mitzvo-tav Ve-tzvi-vanu Al Netilat Lulav.]
Recite the following additional blessing only the first time during this Sukkot season:
2) Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.
[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.]
Note: The Four Kinds are not used on Saturday, October 22, 2005, due to Shabbat observance.
For info on how to bind the Four Kinds click here: http://www.chabad.org/4564
» Rejoicing!
It is a mitzvah to rejoice on Sukkot in commemoration of the joyous "Water Drawing Celebrations" that were held in the Temple.
Click here for more on rejoicing:
http://www.chabad.org/4564
» Hakafot
On Simchat Torah we celebrate the completion of the year round cycle of reading of the Torah. All the Torah scrolls are taken from the Ark and carried in a parade around the synagogue seven times. This is called “Hakafot”. We rejoice, sing and dance with the Torahs, for the re-establishment of our covenant with the Torah as a groom rejoices with his bride. For the Torah is betrothed to Israel as a wife is to her husband.
Children are given gifts of candy and fruit because it is stated that the "commandments of the L-rd are sweeter than honey."
The joyful dancing takes place the preceding evening, this year on October 25, as well as during the morning services, on October 26. The custom of Chabad is to hold the Hakafot ceremony on Shemini Atzeret as well, the evening of October 24.
Click Here To Find A Torah Rejoicing Ceremony:
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/jewishnewyear/calendar_events.asp
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** Calendar **
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For a complete calendar for Sukkot and Simchat Torah, including laws and customs of each day, click here:
http://www.chabad.org/calendar/view/month.asp?hdate=7/1&mode=j
MAY YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE A HAPPY AND JOYOUS SUKKOT!
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Are you prepared for Yom Kippur?
Our extensive Jewish New Year website has how-to’s, stories, lessons and much more! It's sure to make your holiday more meaningful and insightful! All this at:
http://www.chabad.org/highholidays
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Wishing you and your family a happy, sweet new year!
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