Sukkot Rituals

Sukkot is a week-long Jewish holiday commemorating the harvest, reminding of our ancient history of wandering in the desert with the protection of God, and allowing us to appreciate the non-material things in our lives. We build a sukkah, a three-sided structure, where we eat meals and spend time throughout the holiday.
BLESSING FOR DWELLING IN THE SUKKAH

It is a mitzvah to celebrate in the sukkah. While the Torah instructs us to live in the sukkah for seven days, many choose to only eat meals in the sukkah. When eating or reciting聽kiddush聽in the sukkah, recite this blessing:

讘旨指专讜旨讱职 讗址转旨指讛 讛 讗直诇止拽讬谞讜旨 诪侄诇侄讱职 讛指注讜止诇指诐 讗植砖讈侄专 拽执讚旨职砖讈指谞讜旨 讘旨职诪执爪职讜止转指讬讜 讜职爪执讜旨指谞讜旨 诇值讬砖讈值讘 讘旨址住旨只讻旨指讛
TRANSLITERATION

Baruch atah, Adonai聽Eloheinu, Melech haolam,
asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu leisheiv basukkah.

TRANSLATION

Blessed are You, Adonai our God,聽Sovereign of all: who hallows聽us with聽mitzvot,聽commanding us to dwell in the聽sukkah.

BLESSING FOR THE LULAV

The聽lulav聽is held up in the right hand, and the聽etrog聽is held聽pitom聽end (pointy side) down in the left hand. Facing east, recite the blessing. Then turn the etrog up and shake the entire bundle three times in each of six directions: straight ahead, right, back, left, up, and down.

讘旨指专讜旨讱职 讗址转旨指讛 讬职讛止讜指讛 讗直诇止讛值讬谞讜旨 诪侄诇侄讱职 讛指注讜止诇指诐, 讗植砖讈侄专 拽执讚旨职砖讈指谞讜旨 讘旨职诪执爪职讜讉转指讬讜, 讜职爪执讜旨指谞讜旨 注址诇 谞职讟执讬诇址转 诇讜旨诇指讘:
TRANSLITERATION

Baruch atah, Adonai聽Eloheinu, Melech haolam,
asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al n’tilat lulav.

TRANSLATION

Blessed are You, Adonai our God,聽Sovereign of all, who hallows us with聽mitzvot,聽commanding us聽to take up the聽lulav.

SHEHECHEYANU

The first time you wave the聽lulav聽each year, recite the blessing marking a special occasion:

讘旨指专讜旨讱职 讗址转旨指讛 讛’ 讗直诇止拽讬谞讜旨 诪侄纸诇侄讱职 讛指注讜止诇指诐 砖讈侄讛侄讞直讬指纸谞讜旨 讜职拽执讬旨职诪指纸谞讜旨 讜职讛执讙旨执讬注指纸谞讜旨 诇址讝职诪址谉 讛址讝旨侄讛
TRANSLITERATION

Baruch atah, Adonai聽Eloheinu, Melech haolam,
shehechehyanu, v’kiy’manu, v’higianu laz’man hazeh.

TRANSLATION

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all who, has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.

If you’d like a visual of how to shake the lulav, check out this video!