So You Want to Celebrate Sukkot

jewish-kulindadromeus:

This post is for people who are Jewish, converting to Judaism, seriously interested in Jewish conversion, or are Jewish-Adjacent (part of an interfaith family, etc.). It is **not** for gentiles who wish to “deepen their connection to Jesus” or any similar reason uninvolved with genuine interest in becoming a part of the tribe or participating with loved ones, as that is a form of cultural appropriation. Thank you for your understanding. Gentiles CAN, however, reblog!

You’ve celebrated Rosh Hashanah. You observed the Days of Awe. You fasted on Yom Kippur. And suddenly: wait! There’s another holiday! Here comes Sukkot! 

Educate Yourself on what Sukkot Is 

• Sukkot is one of the Shalosh Regalim - the Three Pilgrimage festivals! 
  
• These are the three holidays when, in Temple times, individuals would bring part of their harvest to the Temple in Jerusalem, to be sacrificed to HaShem by the High Priest 
• The origin of Sukkot is that it was (and still is!) a harvest festival, celebrating the summer fruit harvest. This leads it to having the name Chag HaAsif, the Festival of Ingathering 
• Though the three pilgrimage festivals have their ultimate origins in the turn of the harvest in israel, each is ascribed a specific meaning from the stories of the Torah 
• Sukkot is known as the Festival of Booths, leading to its common name, Sukkot (or Chag HaSukkot) 
• These booths commemorate the huts that the ancient Israelites dwelled in while wandering the desert for 40 days 
• Historically, booths were also what farmers dwelled in while completing the harvest, as they needed to be out in the fields as much as possible 
• Today, we still commemorate by building booths! There are a lot of laws about building the booths, known as a sukkah 
• Some goyische people call it the Feast of the Tabernacles, but this is a misnomer, as the Tabernacle is the precursor of the Temple, the portable sanctuary in the desert, which is not the same as the booths the wandering Israelites lived in (or the ones farmers would live in during the harvest). So, don’t use this term. Please. 
• It’s also called the Season of our Rejoicing, or Z’man Simchateinu 
• In the Torah, language indicates that this was the highlight of the Jewish calendar during Biblical times
• In fact, the text seems to indicate that the Sukkot festival was the new year at one time, rather than Rosh Hashanah (called Tzeit Hashanah, the Departure of the Year) 
• Rosh Hashanah, then known as Yom Teruah or the day of Horn-Sounding, would gather people in to prepare for the turn of the year 
• Then Yom Kippur would lead to everyone’s purification
• Only then, on Sukkot, could rejoicing at the new year begin 
• It is still, today, a good continuation of the New Year celebrations 
• Though it seems counter-intuitive to “rejoice” while we have to pick crops and live in huts outside, it still makes sense - it’s a harvest festival! What’s more fun than a harvest festival? 
• We’re glad of the success (hopefully) of the harvest 
• We’re glad that we were provided for in the wilderness
• We’re glad to be connected to nature 
• We’re glad for our lives, here, on this Earth, though we are reminded of the fleetingness of it all by living in the Sukkah 
• Also, living in a hut is fun. Our inner child enjoys blanket forts and tree houses. This is basically the same thing 
• Dwelling in the Sukkah is, in the end, a break from the materialism and complexity of our world; and this is symbolized by the entirety of the festival 
• We also wave around some plants 
• These plants symbolize so many things I probably should just leave it for their specific subsection 
• They can represent the different parts of the body 
• Or the different types of Jews
• Or the ubiquity of Nature
• Or the ubiquity of HaShem in Nature 
• Nature! Plants! Plants and Nature! Yup 
• Sukkot is probably one of the most festive times of the year, as it doesn’t really commemorate anything serious or tragic - just living out in nature with HaShem 
• The festival lasts for… a certain amount of time 
• If you live in Israel, the festival is seven days long 
• If you are of a certain type of reform out in the Diaspora, the festival is seven days long
• If you are any other kind of Diasporic Jew, the festival is eight days long 
• If you are more traditional and in the Diaspora, the first two days of the festival are Yom Tov - days when work is forbidden (like Shabbat) and festive meals are preceded by Kiddush (blessing over wine) 
• If you are of a certain kind of reform, or in Israel, it’s just the first day for Yom Tov 
• The last day, Hoshanah Rabbah, is typically observed more specially, but not as a full Yom Tov (and it’s also technically the last day of judgement - sort of a “if you missed your chance on Yom Kippur here is your LAST POSSIBLE DAY OF ATONEMENT, more on that in a bit) 
• The holiday is then followed by one or two more Yomim Tovim depending on if you’re reform/Israel or Diasporic; you either separate these days into Simchat Torah and Sh’mini Atzeret, or you celebrate them together as one thing. But more on that in my next post 
• The intermediate days (technically including Hoshanah Rabbah) of Sukkot are called the Chol HaMoed, the intermediate days of the festival, where work is permitted for the most part except of certain types of work, it really depends, though sometimes businesses will close for the whole week 
• The typical greeting for this holiday is Chag Sameach, meaning Happy Festival; or Chag Sukkot Sameach, meaning Happy Sukkot Festival 

Go To, or Build, a Sukkah 

• If you have a yard, a balcony, a courtyard in your building that lets you do weird stuff in it, a nearby park, anything, try to build a sukkah! 
  
• If you can’t afford to, are too nervous to, or don’t have the real estate necessary, just skip ahead to the next black bullet point 
• Building a sukkah is a very hallowed mitzvah, and a pretty fun one too! Again, appease your inner child 
• There are many ways to build a sukkah, but there are some fairly clear basic requirements: 
• At least 2 and a half walls made of a material that won’t blow away in the wind, such as canvas covering nailed down, or wood, etc. 
• Only 1 wall can be something at already exists, like the side of your house 
• The materials should largely be temporary ones
• It must be large enough for you (and whoever else in your household) to fulfill the commandment of living in it - ie eat within it 
• The roof must be made of s’chach - something that grew from the ground and was then cut off such as bamboo, sticks, corn stalks, or tree branches; this material must be loose, rather than tied together or tied down, and put sparsely enough on the roof so that you can see the stars through the foliage (though this is actually minhag, not halacha! Weird, right?), but it also shouldn’t be so sparse that there are holes greater than ten inches across, or more light than shading. This is also the last part to be put on top 
• You shouldn’t, if you’re following halacha closely, let there be balconies/tree branches above your sukkah
• There are sukkah kits online!!!!! Kind of expensive though :( You can also just make your own using wood or other materials that are appropriate 
• Sukkah Bikes exist. I love this. I don’t know how one would make one though. 
• Once you have built the sukkah, you should decorate it! 
• Decorating a sukkah is a big deal, and it’s often been compared to Xmas tree decorating. So if you’re jealous of goyim, just rub it in their faces with your fancy hut 
• You can put posters on the walls, hang fruit and other plants, put up fairy lights, origami, paper chains, gourds, whatever you want - just don’t waste food!!! 
• A big thing are Ushpizin Posters - I’m going to get into Ushpizin in a sec, but these are posters showcasing the traditional invited Biblical guests for the Sukkah 
• You can also add a carpet and - if you feel the need - a portable air conditioner, believe it or not 
• Then, dwell in your sukkah! 
• The mitzvah involves eating your meals in the sukkah (for more liberal movements, at least once a day) 
• A meal being anything with, you know, bread - though many eat snacks in the sukkah too. There is a specific blessing to say over eating a meal in the sukkah! 
• But it’s a good thing to spend as much time as you can in the sukkah! Live there! Read books, play games, talk to friends, do your homework - whatever! 
• Yes, you can sleep in the sukkah. Bring a sleeping bag! Be sure to check the weather. If it looks like it’s going to rain, make precautions! You can put a rain cover on top of the sukkah, but it won’t count as a sukkah, technically, if you do 
• Have fun with it! 
• Go to someone else’s sukkah! 
• If you can’t build a sukkah, there are often ways to find the ability to fulfill the mitzvah of eating in the sukkah! 
• If you can build a sukkah, hospitality is a major part of Sukkot, so you should still visit other peoples’ sukkot - and you should invite people to yours! 
• Synagogues often make a sukkah, provided they have the lawn space (they usually do. I go to an inner-city synagogue and even we make the room). They let people come and eat and do things in the sukkah, and often have special programming and activities for those who wish to come 
• Jewish Community Centers and Park Systems often have sukkot as well - check and ask around! 
• You can also, of course, go to a friend’s sukkah!!!! Or just ask the community you’re a part of (hopefully) if anyone has a sukkah you can use. Part of the values of Sukkot are hospitality after all! 
• Then, use the sukkah! 
• You can do all the fun dwelling activities I listed above, except perhaps sleeping in it, at least, ask before you try to do that 
• You also can fulfill the mitzvah of hospitality through the tradition of ushpizin 
• It is traditional to welcome guests into the Sukkah, no one more so than Biblical figures 
• Each day of Sukkot has been commonly associated with a man from the Tanach 
• We invite that individual into our sukkah, and then act as though they are eating the meal with us 
• This tradition differs based on your custom, of course, with notable differences between Sephardic and Ashkenazic custom. 
• It goes as follows:
• Abraham on the first day (For Loving-Kindness)
• Isaac on the second (For Strength)
• Jacob on the third (For Splendor)
• Moses on the fourth (For Eternity)
• Aaron on the fifth (For Glory)
• Joseph on the sixth (For Foundation) 
• David on the seventh (For Sovereignty) 
• There is also now a growing tradition to invite Jewish/Biblical women! There isn’t an established set of women but some good candidates include 
• Sarah
• Rebecca
• Rachel
• Leah
• Miriam
• Tzipporah
• Devorah
• Ruth
• Tamar
• Vashti
• Hadassah
• SO MANY WONDERFUL WOMEN 
• Honestly this is my ideal: 
• Sarah 
• Rebecca who might be genderqueer wait whoops
• Rachel
• Leah
• Miriam 
• Ruth 
• Hadassah 
• Though, of course, you can invite as many people into your sukkah as you want - not just Biblical figures, but also people you admire from the past, like Civil Rights leaders and Scientists and anyone you want 
• You can then put their names up and their pictures up in your sukkah (hence the Ushpizin posters) to invite them in! 
• If you can’t make it to a sukkah, don’t worry! There are a lot of other ways to observe the holiday. And there’s always next year! 

Wave Plants! 

• During Sukkot, it is customary to do fancy waving things with the Four Species, a group of highly symbolic plants found and grown in Israel 
  
• There is the Etrog, the fruit of the Citron tree, a giant yellow lemon-like fruit that is decidedly not good for eating please don’t eat it 
• Then the Lulav, the frond from the date palm tree 
• The Hadass, boughs from the myrtle tree 
• And finally the Aravah, branches from the willow tree 
• The three tree branches (lulav, hadass, and aravah) are grouped together and just called the lulav, so that’s why you hear of the Lulav and the Etrog 
• Together, all four are called the Arba Minim - the four species
• There is so much symbolism surrounding these plants 
• The idea that each of the species alludes to the nature of HaShem: 
• The Etrog is the fruit of the goodly tree, connected to the idea that HaShem is clothed in Glory and Majesty (Psalm 104) 
• The Lulav is because the righteous bloom like a date palm (Psalm 92) 
• The Hadass because HaShem is said to have stood among the myrtle trees (Zechariah) 
• And the Aravah because HaShem is said in Psalm 68 to ride on the clouds, and the word for cloud and the willow tree are the same, Aravah 
• The idea that each of the species symbolizes one of the four letters in the name of HaShem
• Yud corresponds to the Hadass 
• The first Heh corresponds to the Aravah 
• The Vav to the Lulav 
• and the second Heh to the Etrog 
• (Meaning that when we shake the species, we say HaShem’s name) 
• The idea that each of the species refers to a part of the body 
• The Etrog is the heart, where we understand and are wise 
• The Lulav is the backbone, symbolizing how we are to be upright in our deeds
• The Hadass is the eyes, indicating enlightenment 
• And the Aravah are the lips, symbolizing prayer 
• The idea that the four species symbolize the four types of Jews - taste indicates the learning of Torah, and smell indicates the doing of mitzvot 
• The Etrog, which has both taste and smell [please don’t eat it], symbolizes Jews who study Torah and perform mitzvot 
• The Lulav, which has taste but no smell, symbolizes Jews who study Torah, but do not perform mitzvot 
• The Hadass, which has smell but no taste, symbolizes Jews who do not study Torah, but do perform the mitzvot 
• And finally the Aravah, which has neither, represents Jews who neither study Torah, nor perform Mitzvot
• By bringing them all together, we acknowledge that the Jewish people needs all kinds - the Jews who study Torah and those who don’t, the Jews who perform the mitzvot and those who don’t, of all combinations and kinds 
• The idea that the four species each represent to a particular habitat in Israel; all connected to water, indicating the need for water in Israel 
• The Etrog grows on any water, even that from irrigation, and doesn’t depend on natural water to grow 
• The Lulav grows nears fountains of water 
• The Hadass depends entirely on rainwater 
• And the Aravah grows near brooks and streams 
• Then there is symbolism surrounding how we shake the Arba Minim; which I’ll get into in my shaking section  
• You should try and get a lulav and etrog set if you can afford them! Do this early though, eventually it’s too late to get them
• You can order them from online 
• You can pick them up at various places where you live, your synagogue or Jewish Community Center can help
• You can get them from your local Chabad center, if you’re comfortable with that (I don’t want to get into the politics of Chabad right now, sorry) 
• If you can’t get a set, that’s totally understandable! See if your synagogue lets people borrow a set you 
• When shopping for a set, remember, beautifying a mitzvah elevates that mitzvah - you want to get the most beautiful set you can 
• If you have the species - wave them! Don’t just wave them randomly though there’s an art to it
• First, hold the etrog with the pittum (stem) pointed down. In theory, your Lulav (in total, not the individual palm) should be pre-assembled, but for your reference: 
• Put two Aravah on the left; one Lulav in the center; and three Hadass on the right. Feel free to bind them  
• You can now see why we call this structure just the Lulav - the palm is definitely the biggest part 
• Hold the etrog in your left hand and the Lulav in your right hand 
• Then, you say the blessing over waving the lulav and etrog 
• After you’ve said the blessing, point the stem (pittum) of the etrog up in your hand 
• Stand facing the East 
• Hold the lulav in front of you, facing East, and shake it three times by drawing it into you - reach out and draw in, reach out and draw in, reach out and draw in 
• Repeat it three times to the right, going south 
• Three times behind your shoulder, going west 
• Three times to the left, going North 
• Three times raising it above you (up)
• Three times raising it below you (down
• Do all of this slowly and deliberately. If you’re in the synagogue saying the Hallel prayer, it goes with specific parts of the prayer: 
• Hodu (East) 
• L’Adonai (No shaking) 
• Ki (South) 
• Tov (West) 
• Ki (North)
• Le-olam (Up) 
• Chasdo (Down) 
• And then again: 
• Yomar (East)
• Na (South)
• Yisrael (West)
• Ki (North) 
• Le-olam (Up) 
• Chasdo (Down) 
• And finally: 
• A-na (East on first syllable, South on second) 
• Adonai (No Shaking) 
• Ho-shi-ah (West first syllable, North second, Up third) 
• Na (Down) 
• Don’t shake the species on Shabbat, generally speaking 
• Be sure to keep your lulav and etrog safe!!! There are even etrog boxes to keep them unharmed 
• The waving in all these directions symbolizes how HaShem is literally everywhere - in all directions 
• It also is kind of a symbol of theoretical physics, symbolizing the unity of space and time 
• They also symbolize complete immersion in the holiday
• Another symbol is the fertility of the land, and desiring rain 
• Also, the arousal of joy, thanksgiving, and praise of HaShem during the holiday of Sukkot 
• They can be waived any time of the day, in addition to the Hallel prayer (especially if you can’t attend service for whatever reason) 
• This is a highly symbolic mitzvah, and one just as characteristic of Sukkot as the Sukkah

Go Outside! 

• Regardless of whether or not you’re actually able to do things in a Sukkah, you definitely should go outside for the express purpose of celebrating Sukkot 
  
• Since this holiday is all about nature, being outside with HaShem, and the fact that we are connected to the turn of the universe, being outside is in general a good call 
• Go for a walk! With friends, with family, or by yourself - don’t put on headphones, but rather, let the turn of the world around you be your music 
• Go to the park! Sit on a bench, or in the grass, or on a step, and just watch the world around you - the people walking about, the flying of the birds, the movement of the clouds, the swaying of the branches of the trees
• Have a picnic! Especially if you can’t eat in the sukkah, this is a great way to get a similar feel, even if it’s not quite the same - you’re outside, eating, connected with nature and HaShem 
• Go swimming in the lake! Or at the beach or ocean. I do mean a natural water source, though - let the water touch your toes and your skin, feel it surround you, take in the flow of the water around you and through you 
• Climb a tree! Or a mountain. Go for a hike! Climb as high as you can. Reach up to the sky, and realize that HaShem isn’t just there, but all around you. Do stay safe though
• Remind yourself that our world of computers, buildings, cars, and electronics is as temporary as the sukkah - but the universe has existed for billions of years, and will continue to exist for billions more after us

Read Traditional Texts! 

• HECK YEAH ITS TORAH TIME 
  
• So there are five scrolls of the Torah - Bereshit (Genesis), Shemot (Exodus), Vayikra (Leviticus), Bamidbar (Numbers), Devarim (Deuteronomy) 
• But did you know that in the Writings (Ketuvi’im), there are the Five Scrolls, kind of like a counterpart? 
• Much shorter, these scrolls contain stories or philosophical writings that are each connected with a holiday of the year 
• The connection typically has to do with the “theme” of the holiday 
• So we have the Song of Songs (Shir ha-Shirim) for Pesach; Ruth (Rut) for Shavuot; Lamentations (Eikhah) for Tisha B’Av; Ecclesiastes (Kohelet) for Sukkot; and Esther (Ester) for Purim 
• So, on Sukkot, we read Ecclesiastes (Kohelet)! 
• This book is a series of philosophical musings
• Most, it’s about the temporary nature of life, and the philosophical questions that arise from that reality - such as, what’s the point? How does one find meaning in life, due to the existence of death? 
• The book then struggles extensively with the meaning of life and death, the vanity of trying to amass knowledge, goods, anything to create a permanence on this Earth 
• And it discusses how, ultimately, all of these things you amass will one day be gone, as will you - so what is the point? 
• It’s not all pessimistic though, and it embraces this temporal nature, looking at the need to savor the moment and focus on where you are as a source of joy - to embrace the transitory nature of life
• Hmmmmmmm this sounds a lot like the themes of Sukkot I’ve talked about doesn’t it? Yes, yes it does. So we read it on this holiday! 
• We also, of course, read Torah Portions! These portions discuss Sacred Time, the Pilgrimage festivals (of which Sukkot is one), Sukkot specifically, Thanksgiving offerings, and the various specific offerings on Sukkot itself 
• Day 1: Leviticus 22:26 - 23:44 & Numbers 29:12 - 29:16 
• Day 2: Leviticus 22:26 - 23:44 & Numbers 29:12 - 29:16 
• Day 3: Numbers 29:17 - 29:22 
• Day 4: Numbers 29:20 - 29:25 
• Day 5: Numbers 29:23 - 29:28 
• Day 6: Numbers 29:26 - 29:31 
• Day 7: Numbers 29:26 - 29:34 [THIS IS HOSHANAH RABA FYI] 
• Note: What day Shabbat Falls on is Importante 
• If it falls on Day 1 or 2, we read the same things, just with more Aliyot (separations for the readings) 
• If it falls on Day 3 - 6, we read Exodus 33:12 - 34:26 in addition to whatever Numbers portion we are to read that day 
• There are Haftarah Portions Tooooooooooo! DAMN I love Torah 
• Day 1: Zechariah 14:1 - 21 
• Day 2: 1 Kings 8:2 - 21 
• If Shabbat falls on Days 3 - 6, there’s a Haftarah that day too, Ezekial 38:18 - 39:16 
• This is a lot of readings so be sure to pace yourself and set reasonable amounts to study! 

Originally posted by silverliningthe

Eat Autumnal Foods! 

• On the first and second days of Sukkot, it’s traditional to have a huge festive meal, as it is a Yom Tov! This is complete with bread, such as challah; and grape-related drink products, such as grape juice or wine 
  
• Given it’s a Yom Tov, have a big dinner with your family, friends, or Jewish community!!!! Invite people over, even if you don’t have a sukkah - hospitality is a universal Sukkot value! And just a Jewish value in general but, you know, it’s especially great on Sukkot 
• Throughout the holiday, though, it’s traditional to eat fall foods! 
• At least, in the Northern Hemisphere. If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, switch this up for the Spring!
• Keep dipping that challah in honey because you gotta make sure it’s going to be a sweet new year (just, do this until Tishrei is over, unless you don’t want to follow that custom!) 
• Eat stuff with Pumpkin! 
• Pumpkin Mousse! 
• Pumpkin Pie!
• Pumpkin Bread!
• Pumpkin Challah! 
• Pumpkin Pancakes! 
• Pumpkin Custard! 
• Pumpkin Casserole! 
• Pumpkin Sufganiyot! 
• Pumpkin Ravioli! 
• Eat things with fresh fruits and vegetables, especially seasonal ones for the harvest! You can look up what’s seasonal in your area online!
• Eat corn! CORRNNNNNN. I have a great corn casserole recipe if anyone wants it, very festive. Also, of course, Corn bread! 
• Eat other squashes besides pumpkin! You can put butternut squash with apples for a very seasonal treat 
• Eat stuffed dumplings, aka Kreplach! Apparently they’re good for Sukkot, though they’re also found on other holidays 
• Eat food you eat on Thanksgiving? I mean, in all seriousness, this is basically thanksgiving but earlier in the year and less associated with a problematic country history 
• Enjoy that damn Pumpkin Spice Latte. Don’t let ANYONE judge your joyful life choices. 
• And, of course, feel free to have your festive meals OUTSIDE! 

Rejoice! 

• This is the SEASON of OUR REJOICING! REJOICE! 
  
• We’ve gotten through the Yamim Noraim, through Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Now we can really focus on the joy of beginning the new year! Start the year the way you want it to carry on - joyfully! 
• Do things that make you happy, each day of the chag - both the Yom Tovim and the intermediate days, the Chol HaMoed 
• Give thanks to HaShem, give thanks to Nature, give thanks to Life, give thanks to Everything! Rejoice! 
• There’s a Water Drawing Ceremony that you can do, indicating the start of the rainy season (at least, in Israel) 
• When sacrifices were offered at the Temple, wine was poured on the alter
• During sukkot, water was also used, as a request for rain 
• Today, many have nighttime celebrations with singing and dancing, in reminiscence of this custom, which during Temple times included a lot of joyful gymnastics and excitement as the water was drawn for the Temple  
• Play games with friends and family! 
• Sing songs, especially Jewish ones like Niggunim! 
• See movies, especially movies in the park, if you can find something like that near you! 
• Watch Ushpizin - yup, there’s a movie about Sukkot! 
• Give Tzedakah, especially to charities about the natural world and for the homeless!!! 
• Do fall things like going to a Harvest festival, a pumpkin patch, a corn maze - whatever is near you! 
• Make fall-themed decorations!
• Jump into a leaf pile! 
• Throw your cares away for a week - sure, you’ll have to work, especially on the Chol HaMoed, but carry that feeling of rejoicing in your heart, as much as you can 
• Depression is unfortunately a thing that I, the writer, and possibly you, the reader, have. But that doesn’t mean you can’t go into the week trying your hardest to see the goodness around you - maybe it’ll even help you out for a week 

Mark Hoshana Raba! (And Get Ready for Sh’mini Atzeret/Simchat Torah) 

• The Last day of Sukkot is extra special, called Hoshana Raba (The Great Hoshana 
  
• This stems from the fact that, in the synagogue, each day of Sukkot there is a procession around the Bimah (the part of the synagogue where the temple is placed and read after removal from the ark), called the Hoshanah - literally Hosha Na, meaning Please Save Us 
• The seventh one, on the seventh day of Sukkot, is given great importance, because, you know, seven 
• As such, it’s called the Great Hoshana, Hoshana Raba 
• Seven circles are made around the Bimah 
• After these are completed, willow branches (Aravah) are beaten against the floor five times, shaking loose many of the remaining leaves 
• This is considered agricultural 
• The idea is that the rainy season is Israel is about to begin, and the leaves symbolize the desire for rain 
• Interestingly enough, starting the next day, instead of saying “Morid Hatal” (You rain dew upon us) during the Amidah (main prayer of Judaism) we start saying “Mashiv Haruach Umorid Hagashem” (You cause the wind to shift and the rain to fall) literally the next day, on Sh’mini Atzeret 
• So, we bring in the start of the rainy season that day, by beating the willows
• The prayer will return to Morid Hatal on Pesach, which is kind of the opposite festival of Sukkot in some ways (well, just in terms of when it occurs in the yearly calendar, really) 
• There is some symbolism associated with Hoshana Raba and the High Holidays! 
• On Rosh Hashanah, the Book of Life is opened; on Yom Kippur, the Book of Life is sealed; and on Hoshana Raba, the fates for the new year are put into place 
• This symbolism indicates that it’s really the last time for teshuvah, so I swear to HaShem, you better have returned, random tumblr user!!!! RETURN AGAIN TO THE LAND OF YOUR SOUL - 
• All the Torah Scrolls are also taken out and circled around the Bima during the Hoshana of the day 
• There’s a song posted right above that’s actually the Hoshana prayers!!!!!! My friend @starlightomatic loves it
• Literally the next day there are two more holidays: Sh’mini Atzeret and Simchat Torah! 
• They are either the same day if you’re in Israel or of a certain group of reform Jews; or Sh’mini Atzeret is the next day and then Simchat Torah is the day after that if you’re any other Diasporic Jew 
• Check with your synagogue or community to see which protocol is being followed for you 
• Prepare for those holidays! They’re celebrations in their own right 
• Sh’mini Atzeret is a bit philosophically hard to understand, but it’s a completely separate holiday from Sukkot 
• Except some people consider it the eight day of Sukkot
• I don’t know anymore that argument is beyond my pay grade
• It symbolizes an extra day for the Jews to remain with HaShem, with the other days of Sukkot being the days we were originally invited for - the ones for all of mankind, and then the Jewish people get an extra day 
• Simchat Torah is the completion of the Torah readings and the starting of a new Torah Cycle 
• These are important holidays, and they will be described further in yet another post - but, for now, make plans for these chagim, and ways to mark them differently from Sukkot - and also, get excited for Simchat Torah!!! It’s fun, trust me!!! 

You are Not Alone!!!! 

• Celebrate with your community - with friends, or family, or your synagogue, or Jewish Community Center, or Hillel - you get my point 
  
• This is a season of rejoicing - even if you prefer to be alone, in a lot of ways, it’s easier to rejoice with a friend 
• If you feel confused, or lost, or like you can’t do anything without a sukkah - just get outside! Get your friends together and go for a walk! Or even skype/discord with internet friends while sitting underneath a tree
• Don’t feel afraid to reach out if you’re new!!! The community sukkah is there to be used - use it!!!! 
• Use this time to connect with your community, with life, with HaShem, and with nature. Mark the holiday in your heart, all seven days

Don’t Just Listen to Me 

• I am only one Jew who aligns herself with the reform movement sitting in a pile of cockatiel feathers 
  
• I have only MY perspective and MY studies to offer!!! I am not perfect!!! I miss things!!! I misrepresent things!!!!!!! Other people would include other things or tackle the information differently, so talk to other people and get their perspectives!! I beg of you - 
• LEARN FROM ALL THE MOVEMENTS AND ALL THE CULTURES OF JUDAISM!!! EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING TO SAY AND INFORM ABOUT THIS HOLIDAY!!!!!!! 
• Read, Engage, and question question question question!!!!!!!!!!

GOOD LUCK, and CHAG SAMEACH!!!!!!! 

!!!!!!!!!!!חג שמח

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