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Sukkot &
Simchat Torah
Sukkot
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Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah
Sukkot
Sukkot, which is one of the most joyous and
festive holidays in the Jewish year, marks a drastic transition from the
"days of awe," the ten days from Rosh Hashana to Yom Kippur,
that are so very solemn and serious. Hence, Sukkot is often referred
to as Zeman Simchateinu - "The Season of Our
Rejoicing." Sukkot, literally means booths or temporary
dwellings, in which we are commanded to live in during the seven days of
the holiday. This commandment is meant to remind us of the forty
year period in which the Children of Israel wandered in the
desert.
Sukkot begins on the 15th day of Tishrei, (this year it falls on Sunday
evening, the 11th of October 2003).
The seventh day of Sukkot is called Hoshanah Rabbah (The Great Hoshanah),
literally meaning a request for mercy -"Save us." The name
Hoshanah refers to the frequently repeated prayers of the day, and
reminiscent of the Temple service.
Shemini
Atzeret and Simchat Torah
Immediately following Sukkot is the holiday of Shemini
Atzeret, "the Eighth day of Solemn Assembly," and Simchat Torah,
the Day of Celebrating the Torah. As the name of the holiday implies,
Atzeret ("Assembly"), was the time during the historic days of
the temples in Jerusalem, the populace gathered, once in seven years, for
a public reading of the Law.
On Simchat Torah, the annual reading of the Torah in the synagogue is
concluded, to begin again with Genisis the following week.
In Israel, the day is combined with Simchat Torah, the Day of Rejoicing
with the Torah.
Recommended
Reading
 Holiday
Prayerbooks
Machzor: 5 Volume Set - Pocket - Ashkenaz -
A Prayer book for our times, it speaks to today's Jew,
relating the thoughts and words of our heritage to the mind
and heart of modern, sophisticated Jews.
More Choices -- Click Here
- All
About Sukkot
-
Judyth Saypol Groner, et al /
Paperback / Published 1998
- K'Tonton's
Sukkot Adventure
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Sadie Rose Weilerstein, Joe Boddy
(Illustrator) / Hardcover / Published 1993
- Leo
& Blossom's Sukkah
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Jane Breskin Zalben / Hardcover /
Published 1990
- Hoshanos
(Artscroll Mesorah Series)
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Avie Gold (Editor), Nosson Scherman
(Editor) / Hardcover / Published 1980
- Hoshanos
: The Hoshana Prayers = Seder Hoshanot : A New Translation With a
Commentary Anthologized from Talmudic, Midrashic, and Rabbinic
Sources)
-
Avie Gold (Editor), Nosson
Scherman(Editor)/Paperback/Published 1980
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