The Sukkot 5771 (2010) Calendar

As soon as Yom Kippur is behind us we focus on the mitzvot of the upcoming holiday of Sukkot. These four days between Yom Kippur and Sukkot are characterized by frenetic activity--purchasing of the Four Kinds, erecting the sukkah, inviting guests for the forthcoming holiday, shopping for and preparing all the meals, and purchasing new clothing in honor of the holiday.

Click here for a Purchaser's Guide for the Four Kinds.

Click here for a Sukkah Building Guide.

Click here for traditional holiday recipes. 

It is customary to bind together the lulav, hadasim and aravot today, while in the sukkah. Click here to learn how.

On the day before Sukkot is is traditional to give extra charity, for true joy is sharing with others.

Since the festival begins on a Thursday night, we prepare an eruv tavshilin.

Women and girls light candles -- preferably in the sukkah -- in order to usher in the holiday. Click here for the text of the blessings, and here for local candle lighting times. Click here for a summary of the laws of Yom Tov. Click here for a digest of the laws of dwelling in the sukkah.

After evening prayers, we enjoy a holiday meal. Even if it is pouring rain, on this night it is a mitzvah to at least make kiddush and eat an ounce of challah in the sukkah. We dip the challah in honey.

The group of supernal guests -- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David -- that graces our sukkahs throughout the holiday (known as ushpizin) are tonight and tomorrow led by our Patriarch Abraham. The chassidic entourage of ushpizin -- consisting of the Baal Shem Tov, the Maggid of Mezeritch, the Alter Rebbe, the Mitteler Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek, the Rebbe Maharash, the Rebbe Rashab, and the Rebbe Rayatz -- is led by the Baal Shem Tov.

Tonight begins the Simchat Beit Hosho'eva celebrations. It is customary to dance and sing in commemoration of the Water Drawing Festivals held nightly in the Holy Temple throughout the holiday of Sukkot. Click here for more on Simchat Beit Hasho'eva.

We shake the Four Kinds. Click here for a how-to guide.

Morning service. Full Hallel is recited, followed by the Hoshanot (circling of the synagogue's reading table with the Four Kinds, while reciting special prayers petitioning G-d for ample livelihood in the coming year).
Two Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark.
Torah reading: Leviticus 22:26–23:44 and Numbers 29:12–16.
Haftorah: Zachariah 14:1–21.

The Priests bless the congregation with the Priestly Blessing during the Musaf prayer.

Festive lunch meal in the sukkah. We dip the challah in honey.

After dark, women and girls light candles -- preferably in the sukkah -- for the Second day of Sukkot, using an existing flame. Click here for the text of the blessings, and here for local candle lighting times.

After evening prayers, festive holiday meal in the sukkah. We dip the challah in honey.

The group of supernal guests -- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David -- that graces our sukkahs throughout the holiday (known as ushpizin) are tonight and tomorrow led by our Patriarch Isaac. The chassidic entourage of ushpizin -- consisting of the Baal Shem Tov, the Maggid of Mezeritch, the Alter Rebbe, the Mitteler Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek, the Rebbe Maharash, the Rebbe Rashab, and the Rebbe Rayatz -- is led by the Maggid of Mezeritch.

Simchat Beit Hosho'eva celebrations continue. It is customary to dance and sing in commemoration of the Water Drawing Festivals held nightly in the Holy Temple throughout the holiday of Sukkot. Click here for more on Simchat Beit Hasho'eva.

We shake the Four Kinds. Click here for a how-to guide.

Morning service. Full Hallel is recited, followed by the Hoshanot (circling of the synagogue's reading table with the Four Kinds, while reciting special prayers petitioning G-d for ample livelihood in the coming year).
Two Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark.
Torah reading: Leviticus 22:26–23:44 and Numbers 29:12–16.
Haftorah: I Kings 8:2–21.

The Priests bless the congregation with the Priestly Blessing during the Musaf prayer.

Festive lunch meal in the sukkah. The challah is dipped in honey.

Shabbat cooking and preparations.

18 minutes before sunset, women and girls light candles -- preferably in the sukkah -- for Shabbat, using an existing flame. Click here for the text of the blessing, and here for local candle lighting times.

After abridged Shabbat evening prayers (with the addition of the Yaaleh Veyavo insert in the Amidah) festive Shabbat meal in the sukkah.

The group of supernal guests -- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David -- that graces our sukkahs throughout the holiday (known as ushpizin) are tonight and tomorrow led by our Patriarch Jacob. The chassidic entourage of ushpizin -- consisting of the Baal Shem Tov, the Maggid of Mezeritch, the Alter Rebbe, the Mitteler Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek, the Rebbe Maharash, the Rebbe Rashab, and the Rebbe Rayatz -- is led by the Alter Rebbe.

Simchat Beit Hosho'eva celebrations continue. It is customary to dance and sing in commemoration of the Water Drawing Festivals held nightly in the Holy Temple throughout the holiday of Sukkot. Click here for more on Simchat Beit Hasho'eva.

We do not take the Four Kinds today.

Morning service: Normal Shabbat prayers, with the addition of the Yaaleh Veyavo insert in the Amidah.
Complete Hallel is recited. No hoshanot.
Two Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark.
Torah reading: Exodus 33:12–34:26 and Numbers 29:17–22.
Haftorah: Ezekiel 38:18-39:15.

Holiday Musaf Amidah, with Shabbat inserts.

Festive Shabbat lunch meal in the sukkah.

After nightfall, perform the Havdalah ceremony.

Celebrate Sukkot’s Chol Hamoed ("intermediate days"). Between now and Shemini Atzeret (next Wednesday night), we may resume much (not all) of our regular, workday activities; but, of course, we continue to eat in the sukkah. It is customary to drink a glass of wine each day, in celebration of the festival. Click here for a digest of the laws of Chol Hamoed.

The group of supernal guests -- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David -- that graces our sukkahs throughout the holiday (known as ushpizin) are tonight and tomorrow led by Moses. The chassidic entourage of ushpizin -- consisting of the Baal Shem Tov, the Maggid of Mezeritch, the Alter Rebbe, the Mitteler Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek, the Rebbe Maharash, the Rebbe Rashab, and the Rebbe Rayatz -- is led by the Mitteler Rebbe.

Simchat Beit Hosho'eva celebrations continue. It is customary to dance and sing in commemoration of the Water Drawing Festivals held nightly in the Holy Temple throughout the holiday of Sukkot. And now that the holiday and Shabbat have concluded, the festivities are often accompanied by live music. Click here for more on Simchat Beit Hasho'eva. Click here for a Sukkot event in your location.

We shake the Four Kinds. Click here for a how-to guide.

Morning service: In many communities, throughout the intermediate days of Sukkot, tefillin are not worn.
Full Hallel is recited, followed by the Hoshanot (circling of the synagogue's reading table with the Four Kinds, while reciting special prayers petitioning G-d for ample livelihood in the coming year). Today we say today's section of Hoshanot as well as the section for the 3rd day of Sukkot, which we did not say yesterday due to Shabbat. But we only circle the reading table once.
Complete Hallel is recited. One Torah scroll is taken out of the ark.
Torah reading: Numbers 29:20–28.

The Musaf Amidah is recited. During all of the Intermediate Days, Yaaleh Veyavo is inserted during all prayers and in the Grace After Meals.

Chol Hamoed (the "intermediate days") are observed with limited work restriction. Click here for a digest of the laws of Chol Hamoed.

The group of supernal guests -- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David -- that graces our sukkahs throughout the holiday (known as ushpizin) are tonight and tomorrow led by Aaron the High Priest. The chassidic entourage of ushpizin -- consisting of the Baal Shem Tov, the Maggid of Mezeritch, the Alter Rebbe, the Mitteler Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek, the Rebbe Maharash, the Rebbe Rashab, and the Rebbe Rayatz -- is led by the Tzemach Tzedek.

Simchat Beit Hosho'eva celebrations continue. It is customary to dance and sing in commemoration of the Water Drawing Festivals held nightly in the Holy Temple throughout the holiday of Sukkot. Click here for more on Simchat Beit Hasho'eva. Click here for a Sukkot event in your location.

We shake the Four Kinds. Click here for a how-to guide.

Morning service: In many communities, throughout the intermediate days of Sukkot, tefillin are not worn.
Full Hallel is recited, followed by the Hoshanot (circling of the synagogue's reading table with the Four Kinds, while reciting special prayers petitioning G-d for ample livelihood in the coming year).
Complete Hallel is recited. One Torah scroll is taken out of the ark.
Torah reading: Numbers 29:23–31.

The Musaf Amidah is recited. During all of the Intermediate Days, Yaaleh Veyavo is inserted during all prayers and in the Grace After Meals.

Chol Hamoed (the "intermediate days") are observed with limited work restriction. Click here for a digest of the laws of Chol Hamoed.

The group of supernal guests -- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David -- that graces our sukkahs throughout the holiday (known as ushpizin) are tonight and tomorrow led by Joseph. The chassidic entourage of ushpizin -- consisting of the Baal Shem Tov, the Maggid of Mezeritch, the Alter Rebbe, the Mitteler Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek, the Rebbe Maharash, the Rebbe Rashab, and the Rebbe Rayatz -- is led by the Rebbe Maharash.

Simchat Beit Hosho'eva celebrations continue. It is customary to dance and sing in commemoration of the Water Drawing Festivals held nightly in the Holy Temple throughout the holiday of Sukkot. Click here for more on Simchat Beit Hasho'eva. Click here for a Sukkot event in your location.

We shake the Four Kinds. Click here for a how-to guide.

Morning service: In many communities, throughout the intermediate days of Sukkot, tefillin are not worn.
Full Hallel is recited, followed by the Hoshanot (circling of the synagogue's reading table with the Four Kinds, while reciting special prayers petitioning G-d for ample livelihood in the coming year).
Complete Hallel is recited. One Torah scroll is taken out of the ark.
Torah reading: Numbers 29:26–34.

The Musaf Amidah is recited. During all of the Intermediate Days, Yaaleh Veyavo is inserted during all prayers and in the Grace After Meals.

Chol Hamoed (the "intermediate days") are observed with limited work restriction. Click here for a digest of the laws of Chol Hamoed.

The group of supernal guests -- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David -- that graces our sukkahs throughout the holiday (known as ushpizin) are tonight and tomorrow led by King David. The chassidic entourage of ushpizin -- consisting of the Baal Shem Tov, the Maggid of Mezeritch, the Alter Rebbe, the Mitteler Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek, the Rebbe Maharash, the Rebbe Rashab, and the Rebbe Rayatz -- is led by the Rebbe Rashab.

Simchat Beit Hosho'eva celebrations continue. It is customary to dance and sing in commemoration of the Water Drawing Festivals held nightly in the Holy Temple throughout the holiday of Sukkot. Click here for more on Simchat Beit Hasho'eva. Click here for a Sukkot event in your location.

Tonight and tomorrow is Hoshanah Rabbah. It is customary in many communities to remain awake all night. It is traditional to recite the Book of Deuteronomy before midnight, and the Book of Psalms after midnight.

We shake the Four Kinds. Click here for a how-to guide.

Morning service: In many communities, throughout the intermediate days of Sukkot, tefillin are not worn.
Before Hallel, we remove the upper two bands from the lulav. Full Hallel is recited, followed by the Hoshanot (circling of the synagogue's reading table with the Four Kinds, while reciting special prayers petitioning G-d for ample livelihood in the coming year). During today's Hoshanot we circle the reading table seven times, followed by several pages of special prayers, wherein we ask G-d to bless us with abundant rain. At the conclusion of the Hoshanot we take a bundle of five willows and with it we strike the ground five times.
Complete Hallel is recited. One Torah scroll is taken out of the ark.
Torah reading: Numbers 29:26–34.

The Musaf Amidah is recited. During all of the Intermediate Days, Yaaleh Veyavo is inserted during all prayers and in the Grace After Meals.

Chol Hamoed (the "intermediate days") are observed with limited work restriction. Click here for a digest of the laws of Chol Hamoed.

Many have the custom to eat kreplach – ground beef or chicken-filled dough, folded into triangles – on this day. Click here for a recipe.

Click here for more about Hoshanah Rabbah.

Tonight is Shemini Atzeret. Since the festival begins on a Thursday night, we prepare an eruv tavshilin.

Women and girls light candles -- preferably in the sukkah -- in order to usher in the holiday. Click here for the text of the blessings, and here for local candle lighting times.

Please refer to our Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah Calendar for further instructions.