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Sukkot
The primary mitzvot of the holiday of Sukkot are the four species
( referred to as the lulav set) and dwelling in the sukkah. For
detailed explanations, please click on the appropriate ritual (from
the menu on the left)
The
Four Species (the lulav set) is composed of a lulav (palm frond),
avot (myrtle branches), aravot (willow branches) and an etrog
(citron).
The
Sukkah is the temporary dwelling composed of three solid walls
and a temporary roof made of branches or loose boards.
YOM TOV - The First Festival Days
Sukkot is a 7 day holiday. The first day (first two days outside
of Israel) are Yamim Tovim - days which are kept like Sabbath (cooking
and carrying, however, are permitted).
Candlelighting
If possible (if it is not a fire or child hazard), candles should
be lit in the sukkah.
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Shabbat
and all Jewish holidays always begin at sunset of the evening
before. On the Sabbath and Yom Tov [festival] candles are
lit 18 minutes before sunset to welcome the holiday. On the
second night of Yom Tov, candles are lit no earlier than one
hour after sunset.
Because Sukkot 5763 (2002) begins on Friday night, the Shabbat
candle-lighting procedure is as follows :
Two candles (minimum) are lit, then both hands are waved towards
the face, symbolically drawing in the light of the candles
and the sanctity of the Sabbath/Yom Tov. The eyes are covered
and the blessing is recited. On the second night, Saturday
night, the blessing is said first, without the Shabbat addition,
and only then are the candles lit (from a pre-existing flame).
On Friday night, insert the bracketed words:
Baruch atah Ado-nai, Ehlo-haynu melech Ha-olam, asher kideshanu
b'mitzvotav v'tzeevanu l'hadlik ner shel [Shabbat v']Yom Tov.
Blessed are you L-rd, our G-d ruler of the world, who sanctified
us through His commandments and commanded us to kindle the
lights of [the Sabbath and] Yom Tov (festival).
An additional blessing is said on both nights of Rosh Hashana
to acknowledge the good fortune of being able to experience
the holiday:
Baruch atah Ado-nai, Ehlo-haynu melech Ha-olam, she'he'che'yanu
v'kee'manu, v'hee'gee'anu la'zman ha'zeh
Blessed
are you L-rd, our G-d ruler of the world, Who has kept us
alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season
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Evening services are held in the synagogue.
The
Festive Meal in the Sukkah:
While one must eat in the sukkah throughout the holiday, on the
first night there is a specific obligation to do so. If it is raining,
it is customary to wait to start the meal until the rain has stopped,
waiting even until midnight. If the rain does not stop, many make
the kiddush and ha'motzei (blessings over the wine and bread) in
the sukkah and then return to the house to conclude the meal.
Ushpizin (Guests) -
In the sukkah, the family prepares for the evening meal. Before
kiddush, however, it is customary to take a moment to welcome
the spiritual guests that join every Jew in the sukkah.
According to the kaballah, the Jewish mystical tradition, the
Divine Presence (shechina) accompanies every Jew into the sukkah.
The shechina is accompanied by the seven shepherds of Israel:
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aharon, and David.
Each evening the host of the sukkah welcomes the seven ushpizin
(guests) by saying:
I invite to my meal the exalted guests: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,
Joseph, Moses, Aharon, and David. May it please you, Abraham,
my exalted guest, that all the other exalted guests dwell here
with me and with you - Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aharon,
and David.
On each night a different guest is welcomed, in a specific
order. Thus on the second night, one says: May it please you,
Isaac, my exalted...and on the third night: May it please you,
Jacob, my exalted...etc.
Kiddush (the blessing over wine), found in the regular siddur
or holiday machzor (prayer book), is recited, followed immediately
by the blessing for residing in the sukkah -- leishev ba'sukkah
and she'he'che'yanu -- the blessing of G-d who has kept us alive
for this occasion.
Baruch
atah Ado-nai, Ehlo-haynu melech Ha-olam, asher kideshanu b'mitzvotav
v'tzeevanu leishev ba'sukkah.
Blessed are you L-rd, our G-d ruler of the world, who sanctified
us through His commandments and commanded us to dwell in the
sukkah.
Baruch atah Ado-nai,
Ehlo-haynu melech Ha-olam, she'he'che'yanu v'kee'manu v'hee'gee'anu
la'zman ha'zeh
Blessed are you L-rd, our G-d ruler of the world, Who has kept
us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.
c)
Because the first day of Yom Tov is also Shabbat, Havdallah, the
ceremony separating holy days from each other and weekdays, is
recited after Kiddush before the second night meal.
d) On the second night of Yom Tov (outside of Israel), the order
of the two blessings is reversed -- one first says she'he'che'yanu
and then leishev ba'sukkah.
Ha'Motzei - After a ritual washing
of the hands, the blessing is made over two whole challot.
a) Because it is still the New Year season, it is customary to
have two sweet, round (raisin) challahs.
b)
It is also customary to continue dipping the challah in honey
in addition to the customary sprinkling with salt.
A
festive meal is
eaten, followed by the Grace After Meals with the addition of Y'aleh
V'Yavo, "May there rise and come...", for the holiday.
Sleeping in the sukkah is part of the
mitzvah of dwelling in the sukkah. Many, however, choose to sleep
inside due to the cold or the unsafe location.
The
morning synagogue service
a) The Torah Reading is Leviticus 22:26 - 23:44
The haftorah (prophetic message) on the first day is from the
Book of Zechariah 14:1-21
The
haftorah on the second day is from Kings I, 8:2-21
b)
Hallel and Hoshanot
Hallel is a collection of Psalms that are recited on the festivals
and Rosh Chodesh (the new month).
- During
the holiday of Sukkot, the lulav set is held and shaken during
the Hallel service.
- On
Shabbat, Hallel is recited without the lulav set.
The Hoshana Service is the special service of Sukkot.
- During
the Hoshana Service, congregants circle the bimah with the
lulav set.
- On
Shabbat, the Hoshana Service are recited without the lulav
set, reminiscent of the circuits made in the ancient Temple
by those observing Sukkot in Jerusalem.
The
Festive Lunch
is eaten in the sukkah
a)
The Festival Day Kiddush (blessing over wine), found in the holiday
machzor (prayer book), is recited, followed by the blessing leishev
ba'sukkah.
b) Ha'Motzei - After a ritual washing of the hands, the blessing
is made over two whole challot, the pieces of which are sprinkled
with salt and dipped in honey.
c) A festive meal is eaten, followed by the Grace After Meals
with the addition of Y'aleh V'Yavo, "He will go up and he will
come...", for the Sukkot holidays.
Mincha,
the afternoon service is recited (including the weekly Torah reading
since it is also Shabbat).
Havdallah -
At the conclusion of the second day of Yom Tov, Havdallah, separating
holy days from week days, is recited. This Havdallah consists of
only the blessing over grape juice (HaGafen) and the Havdallah blessing
(HaMavdil), which can be found in the prayer book.
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