This Year Chanukah begins on December 2, 2018 after nightfall and ends after nighfall of December 10, 2018

A Very Very Simple Guide for Chanukah Celebration
This Document contains G-d's Name, therefore it may NOT be thrown out

The Historical Background of Chanukah:

The Hebrew word Chanukah means "dedication." In the 2nd century BCE, during the time of the Second Holy Temple, the Syrian-Greek regime of Antiochus sought to pull Jews away from Judaism, with the hopes of assimilating them into Greek culture. Antiochus outlawed Jewish observance ― including circumcision, Shabbat, and Torah study ― under penalty of death. As well, many Jews ― called Hellenists ― began to assimilate into Greek culture, taking on Greek names and marrying non-Jews. This began to decay the foundation of Jewish life and practice.
When the Greeks challenged the Jews to sacrifice a pig to a Greek god, a few courageous Jews took to the hills of Judea in open revolt against this threat to Jewish life. Led by Matitiyahu, and later his son Judah the Maccabee, this small band of pious Jews led guerrilla warfare against the Syrian-Greek army.
Antiochus sent thousands of well-armed troops to crush the rebellion, but after three years the Maccabees beat incredible odds and miraculously succeeded in driving the foreigners from their land. The victory was on the scale of Israel defeating the combined super-powers of today.
Jewish fighters entered Jerusalem and found the Holy Temple in shambles and desecrated with idols. The Maccabees cleansed the Temple and re-dedicated it on the 25th of Kislev. When it came time to re-light the Menorah, they searched the entire Temple, but found only one jar of pure oil bearing the seal of the High Priest. The group of believers lit the Menorah anyway and were rewarded with a miracle: That small jar of oil burned for eight days, until a new supply of oil could be brought.
From then on, Jews have observed a holiday for eight days, in honor of this historic victory and the miracle of the oil. We celebrate Chanukah by kindling the Menorah for eight days, adding a new light each night. Adding a candle encourages us to grow spiritually and to continuously add holiness to our lives. This is the essence of our faith and it is symbolized by the manner in which we light our Menorahs.

Lighting of the Candles

Both men and women are obligated to light the Chanukah menorah, or to participate in the household menorah lighting. Many have the custom to place the menorah on a windowsill.

On Sunday evening, December 2, 2018 after the nightfall 4:35  pm NY time -   we kindle the 1st light of Chanukah.

For exact times based on your location visit: https://www.chabad.org/calendar/zmanim_cdo/aid/143790/jewish/Zmanim-Halachic-Times.htm#tdate=12/2/2018

How to Light

On the first night, place one candle at the far right, as you face the menorah. This applies whether the menorah is placed next to a doorway or by a window. Another candle is placed for the Shamash (taller helper candle) which is used to light the others. It is not counted as one of the candles. First light the Shamash, then recite the blessings, and then use the Shamash to light the Chanukah candle.

On the second night, place two candles in the two far-right positions ― and use the Shamash to light the left one first. The third night, place three candles in the three far-right positions ― and use the Shamash to light them in order, from left to right. Follow this same procedure each night of Chanukah... until all the lights are kindled and glowing brightly! Remember as you gaze upon this spiritual light, it's not only the light of the Menorah, but the eternal Jewish light in our souls. 

Blessings to Say

On the first night of Chanukah (Sunday, December 2 after 4:35 pm) , recite all three blessings. On all subsequent nights, recite blessings number 1 and 2.

1. Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai Eh-lo-hei-noo Meh-lech Ha-olam A-sher Ki-deh-sha-noo Beh-mitz-vo-tav Veh-tzi-va-noo Leh-had-lik Ner Cha-noo-kah. Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light. 

2. Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai Eh-lo-hei-nu Meh-lech Ha-olam Sheh-a-sa Nee-sim La-avo-tei-noo Ba-ya-mim Ha-hem Bee-z’man Ha-zeh. Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time.

3. Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai Eh-lo-hei-noo Me-lech Ha-olam Sheh-heh-cheh-ya-noo Veh-kee-yeh-ma-noo Veh-hee-gee-a-noo Liz-man Ha-zeh. Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

For the first half hour when the candles are burning, it is customary to sit by the candles and tell stories relating to the holiday. Work should not be done in the proximity of the burning candles. Women have a custom to refrain from household work during the half hour that the lights are burning, to honor the brave Jewish women who played a significant role in the Chanukah story.

*IMPORTANT: It is forbidden to light a fire on Shabbat, which extends from sunset on Friday evening until nightfall on Saturday night. Therefore, on Friday evening, December 7, the Chanukah lights should be kindled early, before the Shabbat lights, which are lit 18 minutes before sundown, before 4:16 NY time. Additional oil or larger candles should be used for the Chanukah lights, to make sure they will last a full half hour after nightfall—the standard 30-minute Chanukah candles cannot be used on Friday. From the time the Shabbat candles are lit (Friday evening) until Shabbat ends (after nightfall Saturday night) and until the havdalah prayer (separating Shabbat from the weekday) is recited, the Chanukah menorah should not be relit, moved or prepared. Chanukah lights for Saturday night are kindled only after Shabbat ends after nightfall, after 5:19 NY time.

Traditions

Chanukah Gelt (money).

It is customary to increase one’s daily giving to charity.

It is traditional to give children Chanukah gelt (money).
Of course, this beautiful custom adds to the children’s happiness and festive spirit. In addition, it gives adults an opportunity to give the children positive reinforcement for exemplary behavior. The children should be encouraged to give charity from a portion of their money.

Playing Dreidel (spinning the Chanukah top)

The widespread custom that children have of playing dreidel also reflects the theme of Chanukah. Because the children have the "Chanukah gelt" that they receive from their parents. The dreidels are inscribed with the Hebrew letters nun, gimel, heh, and peh, the initial letters of the words nes gadol hayah poh – "a great miracle occurred here." Outside the Land of Israel, it is customary to replace the peh with a shin, the initial letter of the word sham – "there," in Eretz Yisrael. Thus, even when the children are playing, the remembrance of the miracle of Chanukah is woven into their games.

Foods Cooked in Oil

Because of the great significance of oil in the story of Chanukah, it is traditional to serve foods cooked in oil. Among the most popular Chanukah dishes are potato latkes (pancakes) and sufganiot (doughnuts).

Traditional Chanukah Potato Latkes

You'll need onion, oil, salt, potatoes, eggs, flour and oil. While the recipe works with any type of potato, using Yukon Gold will be much more aesthetically pleasing because they discolor much more slowly than other potatoes and will keep your mixture looking bright and fresh for longer. They also have a buttery taste which will take your latkes to the next level. Most latke recipes call for raw onion, but I like to fry them off first to give the latkes more flavor. Dice the onion and sauté it in 2 tbsp. oil and 1 tsp. salt until golden. Peel and grate the potatoes (by hand or with a food processor) and immediately put the potato shreds into a bowl of cold water. Continue shredding until all the potatoes are grated. Place the eggs, flour, fried onion and 2 tsp. salt in a separate bowl. Drain the grated potato well, add it to the rest of the ingredients and mix immediately. Heat 2-4 tbsp. of oil in a frying pan, over medium heat. Test the oil by dropping a tiny bit of the mixture into the pan. When the oil sizzles upon contact, it is ready. For uniform latkes, use a 1/4 or 1/8 cup measuring cup. Scoop the batter and gently drop it into the oil. Press down gently with the back of the measuring cup to flatten. Fry 2-3 minutes until golden, then flip the latkes and fry 1-2 minutes on the second side. Repeat until all the mixture has been fried. (You will need to add more oil to the pan every couple of batches.)

Ingredients:

• ½ an onion
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 3 tsp. kosher salt, divided
• 1.5 lbs. Yukon Gold potatoes
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup flour
• Oil for frying

Directions:

1.     Dice the onion and sauté it in 2 tbsp. oil and 1 tsp. salt until golden.

2.     Grate the potatoes (by hand or in a food processor). Immediately transfer the grated potato to a bowl of cold water.

3.     Place the eggs, flour, fried onion and 2 tsp. salt in a separate bowl. Drain the grated potato well, add it to the rest of the ingredients and mix immediately.

4.     Heat 2-4 tbsp. of oil in a frying pan, over medium heat. Test the oil by dropping a tiny bit of the mixture into the pan. When the oil sizzles upon contact, it is ready.

5.     For uniform latkes, use a 1/4 or 1/8 cup measuring cup. Scoop the batter and gently drop it into the oil. Press down gently with the back of the measuring cup to flatten. Fry 2-3 minutes until golden, then flip the latkes and fry 1-2 minutes on the second side. Repeat until all the mixture has been fried. (You will need to add more oil to the pan every couple of batches.)

Yields: 16 latkes

I know some people are staunch apple sauce and sour cream latke-eaters, but I've never really been able to wrap my mind (or taste-buds) around either of those. I prefer my latkes straight up. What's your latke condiment of choice?

Inspirational Story

        Private Stephen Winneger was on patrol one night during WWII when he saw a figure running through a field. He shouted, "Halt or I'll shoot." The figure ducked behind a tree and started to dig. Stephen again shouted, "Halt or I'll shoot!"  He didn't halt. Stephen caught up with him and tackled him to the ground. To his surprise, he found he had captured a young boy. An ornate Menorah had fallen from the boy's hands in the scuffle and Stephen picked it up. The boy tried desperately to grab it back shouting in Yiddish, "Give it to me! It's mine!" Stephen assured the boy that he was among friends, and that, furthermore, he himself was Jewish.
 
        The boy had just survived several long, tortuous years of the Holocaust in a concentration camp and was naturally mistrustful of all men in uniforms. He had come back to retrieve the menorah he had hidden there. It was all he had left in the world. He had been forced to watch the shooting of his father, and had no idea what had become of his mother.

        Stephen took the boy, whose name was David, under his wing. As they became closer and closer, Stephen's heart went out to the boy. He offered David the opportunity to come back to New York City with him. He accepted and underwent official adoption procedures.

        Back home, a curator of the Jewish Museum in Manhattan, saw the menorah and told David it was a very valuable, historic, European Menorah and that it should be shared with the entire Jewish Community. He offered David $2,500 for the menorah—a staggering sum of money in the late 1940’s!  But David refused the incredible offer, emphatically stating that the menorah had been in his family for over 200 years and that no amount of money could ever make him sell it. He would not part with a family mitzvah tradition.

        When Hanukkah came, David and Stephen lit the menorah in the window of their home in New York City. An hour later there was a knock on the door. When Stephen went to answer he found a woman with a strong German accent who said that she was walking down the street when she saw the menorah in the window. She said that she had once had one just like it in her family and had never seen any other like it. Could she possibly come inside and take a closer look?

        Winneger invited her in and said that the menorah belonged to his son, David, who could perhaps tell her more about it. He went upstairs and called David down to talk to the woman. And that is how David was reunited with his mother. 

(©2016. Printed with permission from Rabbi Baruch Lederman, author of Shulweek www.kehillastorah.org.) 

For more information visit on a holiday visit:

https://www.partnersintorah.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/chanukah.pdf

Muslim and Jewish Families Save Each Other, 50 Years Apart

The Hardagas hid the Kabilijo family in Sarjevo during the Holocaust. They returned the favor 50 years later.

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In 1941, the Nazis invaded Yugoslavia. They seized Sarajevo, looted the old synagogue and burned its precious 400-year-old Torah scrolls.
Never forced to live in ghettos, the Jews of Yugoslavia were treated better than in most of Western Europe. By the 1930s there were about 12,000 Jews in Sarajevo and another 2,000 in other cities. Though the Jewish population would be decimated during the Holocaust with 10,000 murdered by Croatian pro-Nazi fascists, some Muslims tried to protect their Jewish neighbors.

Synagogue in Sarajevo, 1941

The Gestapo opened an office across the street from the home of a Muslim furniture salesman named Mustafa Hardaga and his wife, Zejneba. At night, the Hardagas could hear agonizing shrieks as prisoners were tortured in jail.

Mustafa Hardaga, Yad Vashem collection

Yosef Kabiljo, a Jew, was Mustafa Hardaga’s business partner and good friend. After Kabiljo’s house was destroyed in a Nazi bombing raid, the Hardagas invited him and his family to live in their home, despite the terrible risk to their own lives.
“You are our brother and your children are like our children. Feel at home and whatever we own is yours.”
One day the Gestapo showed up at the Hardaga’s door to check their documents. Yosef Kabiljo, his wife and daughter were hiding behind items of clothing inside a large closet. Miraculously they were not discovered.
The Kabiljos remained hidden by the Hardagas until they could relocate to the Bosnian city of Mostar under Italian rule and a safer place for Jews.

Rifka Kabiljo, children and Zeineba Hardaga (right) walking in in Sarajevo. Yad Vashem Collection

Yosef Kabiljo remained behind to liquidate his business and was eventually caught by the Nazis. Due to a heavy snowfall, the prisoners could not be transferred from Sarajevo to the infamous Jasenovac camp near Zagreb. There the Croatians were consistently killing Serbs, Jews and Roma (gypsy) people alike. Spared that fate, the prisoners were forced, with chained legs, to clear the heavy snow from the roads.
One day Yosef Kabiljo noticed Zejneba Hardaga standing at a street corner. She watched him with tears in her eyes. Despite the danger, she brought food to him and the other prisoners.
Yosef managed to escape and fled to the Hardaga home.
The Nazis discovered that the Hardagas were helping Jews. Ahmed Sadik, Zejneba’s father who had forged identification documents for Jewish families, was executed by the Nazis.
The Kabiljo family managed to survive the war and eventually settled in Jerusalem. They requested that Yad Vashem recognize the Hardaga family and Ahmed Sadik as the Righteous Among the Nations and a tree was planted in honor of their bravery.
After Mustafa Hardaga passed away in the 1960s, the Kabiljos still kept in contact with Zejneba and her daughter Sara.
The years went by until 1992. Then a vicious war broke out in Bosnia whose population was a mixture of Muslim Bosnians, Orthodox Serbs and Roman Catholic Croats. When Yugoslavia split apart, racial and religious divisions controlled under communism finally erupted. The Bosnian War, with its massacres, barbarity and genocide, became the worst conflict in Europe since World War II.
During the years 1992 to 1994, almost three million people were forced to flee from their homes, more than 100,000 were killed and thousands of women were assaulted. Serbian troops surrounded Sarajevo where snipers targeted anyone who tried to leave their homes.
Caught up in the suffering was Zejneba Hardaga, her daughter Sara Pecanac, son-in-law Branimir and nine-year-old granddaughter Sacha. Seeing their neighbors shot and dying in the street outside their home, they lived in fear that they might be next.
With no food available, the family survived for weeks on soup made of grass they picked in a local park. They needed to take shelter in the basement of their besieged home.

Sarajevo in ruins, 1992

Desperate, frightened and stranded, they lost hope that they might survive this terrible ordeal. Then a message arrived from Israel.
In Jerusalem, their old friends the Kabiljos were anxiously listening to the news about Bosnia, wondering if the Hardaga family was still alive. They contacted an Israeli journalist leaving for Bosnia to cover the war. He conveyed the message to an organization in Sarajevo that the Kabiljo family was searching for Zejneba. They were relieved to discover that Zejneba, her daughter Sara, and two other family members were still surviving.
Sara Pecanac was amazed to hear the Kabiljos were trying to help them. She did not find out the story of her family’s heroism in the Holocaust until 1984. “My father had died and my mother didn’t talk about it very much,” she said of the family’s bravery. However, her mother did tell her, “You can’t control how rich you will be, or how smart or successful you will be. But you can control how good you will be.”

Zejneba (fourth from the right) at the tree planting ceremony in honor of her family, Yad Vashem, 1985

The Kabiljos contacted Yad Vashem for help in rescuing the family who had saved them. Yad Vashem requested permission of the president of Bosnia, but he refused to allow the family to leave the war-torn country. The Kabiljos did not give up on the friends they regarded as their family. They persisted in taking their case all the way to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Eventually, in early 1994, Sara Pecanac, her husband, daughter and mother Zejneba joined 300 other refugees on a convoy of six buses leaving the ruined city of Sarajevo. Given their choice of destinations, the family immediately chose Jerusalem.

Sara Pecanac

“Imagine that you are in such a state and need help and you get it from the same family that your family saved 50 years earlier,” said Sara Pecanac. The deep bond connecting the two families was probably part of the impetus that inspired Sara and her family to convert to Judaism. “It is only natural that I should want to become Jewish. It is an honor for me to belong to these people,” Sara explained. She now works for Yad Vashem where the story of her family is exhibited in the museum, where the file about the family is kept in the archive of the Righteous Among the Nations, and where a tree was planted by her mother in honor of her family’s courage and humanity.

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A Very Very Simple Guide for Sukkot Celebration

This Year the Holiday of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah begins Sunday September 23, 2018 at Sunset (6:38 pm NY Time) - Ends on October 2 after Sunset (7:21 pm NY Time)

(In honor of Sukkot, please print BEFORE the Holiday begins - This Document contains G-d's Name, therefore it may NOT be thrown out)

For  a 2 minute video of Sukkot please visit: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoTMrJ8yUWM&feature=youtu.be

As soon as the solemn day of Yom Kippur is behind us, we focus on the traditions of the upcoming joyous holiday of Sukkot. We build a temporary house called Sukkah, which remind us of the Clouds of Glory with which G-d surrounded the Jewish people in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt.

It is very special to experience a meal in a Sukkah and to 'shake' The Four Species (Lulav, Etrog, Aravot and Hadassim). If you have never done either before, visit http://www.cbscommunitycenter.com

You can also visit www.Chabad.org to find a synagogue near you where you can be accommodated.

 

Elevating the Mundane

When we do a mitzvah (a commandment), we elevate ourselves, the object with which we did the mitzvah, and our environment. Most commandments are focused only on limited aspects of our being and limited dimensions of our environment. However, when it comes to dwelling in a Sukkah, not only is the entire body enveloped by the mitzvah, but so are the most mundane aspects of life. After all, by eating, drinking or even reading a good book in the Sukkah, we perform a mitzvah that encompasses our entire body!

 

CANDLE LIGHING

Women (or if there isn't a woman in the house, the head of the household) lights candles.

Please light from existing fire of a candle you light prior to the Holiday.

For exact times in your area go to:

http://www.chabad.org/calendar/candlelighting_cdo/aid/6226/jewish/Shabbat-Candle-Lighting-Times.htm

On Sunday September 23, 2018 (6:38 pm NY Time) and Monday September 24th (after 7:34 pm NY Time) and

Sunday, September 30, 2018  (6:26 pm NY Time)  and Monday October 2nd (after 7:22 pm)  say two prayers below:

1. Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam asher ki-deshanu be-mitzvo-tav ve-tzvi-vanu Lehadlik Ner Shel Yom Tov 

(Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to light the candle of the Holida

2 . Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam she-heche-ya-nu ve-ki-yi-ma-nu ve-higi-a-nu liz-man ha-zeh

(Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.)

On Friday September 28 (at 6:29 pm NY Time) say:

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam asher ki-deshanu be-mitzvo-tav ve-tzvi-vanu Lehadlik Ner Shel Shabbos

(Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to  kindle the light of the Holy Shabbat)

Evening Kiddush for Wednesday and Thursday Nights

Kiddush is recited while holding a cup of kosher wine or grape juice.

Barukh atah A-do-nai, Elohaynu, melekh ha-olam asher bachar banu mee-kol am, v'rom'manu mee-kol lashon v'kee'd'shanu b'meetzvotav, va-teeten lanu, A-do-nai Elohaynu, b'ahavah mo'adeem l'seemchah, chageem u-z'maneem l'sason, et yom chag ha-Sukkot hazeh, z'man seemchateinumeekra kodesh, zeicher leetzeeyat meetz'rayeem Ki Vanu Vacharta V’osanu Keedashtsa Mekol Haamim U-mo'aday Kadsh’kha b'simchah u-v'sason hin’chal’tanu. Barukh atah Adonai, m’kadesh Yisra'el v'ha-z'manim. (Amein)

Blessed are you, Lord, our God, king of the universe who has chosen us from among all people, and exalted us above every tongue and sanctified us with His commandments, and you gave us, Lord our God, with love appointed festivals for gladness, festivals and times for joy, this day of the festival of Sukkot, the time of our gladness a holy convocation, a memorial of the exodus from Egypt Indeed, You have chosen us and made us holy among all peoples and your holy festivals in gladness and in joy you have given us for an inheritance Blessed are You, who sanctifies Israel and the seasons. (Amen)

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam Asher Kideshanu Bemitzvotav Vetzivanu Leshev Basukkah.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to sit in the Sukkah.

  

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam she-heche-ya-nu ve-ki-yi-ma-nu ve-higi-a-nu liz-man ha-zeh

(Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.)

_{Friday Night Kiddush}

<sub>Part 1 : (Quietly: Va-ye-hee erev, va-ye-hee voker.) Yom Ha-shishi. Va-ye-chulu hasha-mayim vi-ha-aretz vi-kole tzi-va-am. Va-yichal Elohim ba-yom hashe-vi'i milach-to asher asa. Va-yish-bose ba-yome hashe-vi'I mi-kole milach-to asher asa. Va-ye-varech Elohim es yom hashe-vi'i va-yi-kadesh oso. Kee voe shavas mi-kole milach-toe asher bara Elohim la-a-sose.

(Quietly: It was evening and it was morning.) The sixth day. So the heavens and the earth were finished, with all their complement. On the seventh day, God had completed His work which He had undertaken, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had been doing. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He ceased from all His creative work, which God had brought into being to fulfill its purpose.

Part 2:  Savri maranan ve-rabanan ve-rabosai: Baruch ata Adonoy, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, borei peri ha-gafen. (Others respond: "Amen")

Blessed are You God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. (Others respond: "Amen")

Part 3: Baruch ata Adonoy, Elo-heinu melech ha-Olam, asher kidish-anu bi-mitz-vosav vi-ratza vanu, vi-Shabbos kod-sho bi-ahava uv-ratzon hin-chi-lanu, zikaron lima-aseh vi-raishis. Ki hu yom ti-chila li-mikra-ay kodesh, zay-cher li-tzi-as mitz-rayim. Ki vanu vachar-ta vi-osanu kidash-ta mikol ha-amim. Vi-shabbos kod-shicha bi-ahava uv-ratzon hinchal-tanu. Baruch ata Adonoy, mi-kadesh ha-shabbos. ("Amen")

Blessed are You God, King of the Universe, who made us holy with his commandments and favored us, and gave us His holy Shabbat, in love and favor, to be our heritage, as a reminder of the Creation. It is the foremost day of the holy festivals marking the Exodus from Egypt. For out of all the nations You chose us and made us holy, and You gave us Your holy Shabbat, in love and favor, as our heritage. Blessed are you God, Who sanctifies Shabbat. (“Amen”)

Part 4:  Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam Asher Kideshanu Bemitzvotav Vetzivanu Leshev Basukkah.</sub>

_{Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to sit in the Sukkah.}

Pour some wine into a separate cup for guests and then drink the rest yourself without talking.

Challah in Honey

Immediately following the kiddush, we perform the ritual washing for bread. Fill a large cup with water. Pass the cup to your left hand and pour three times over your right hand. Repeat by pouring on your left hand. As you wipe your hands recite the blessing:

Baruch atah A-donoy, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam, asher kidshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu al netilat yadayim.

When everyone has returned to the table, we raise the two challah loaves and recite the blessing:

Ba-ruch atah A-do-nay, E-lo-hei-nu Melech Ha-Olam, hamotzie le-chem min ha-are-tz.

Blessed are You, L-rd, our G‑d, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Cut the challah, dip it in honey and salt, and have a bite. Pass around pieces and make sure everyone does the same.

UNIQUE FEATURES OF SUKKOT

On Sukkot there is a special Mitzvah to dwell in special hut called a Sukkah. Therefore one should eat and if one is able to even sleep in this holy abode. 

A Sukkah is a hut built to provide shade. That's why it must sit beneath the open sky—not under a patio deck or even the branches of a tree. The walls can be made of any material, as long as they are secure and don't flap about in the wind. The roof, however, (we call it s'chach), must be of unprocessed materials which have grown from the ground. Bamboo poles, thin wooden slats, and evergreen branches are popular choices. We make sure to use enough s'chach so that the inside of the sukkah has more shade than sunlight.

On Sukkot, along with the mitzvah of dwelling in the Sukkah comes the Scriptural obligation of “taking” the Four Species as instructed by the verse, “On the first day, you must take for yourself a fruit of the citron tree, an unopened palm frond, myrtle branches and willows of the brook.”

_{We SHAKE the Four species on all days of Sukkot except Shabbat} 

The Four Species are co-dependent, and if one of the four is missing, the mitzvah is not fulfilled. In total, seven individual items are required for the mitzvah:

1. One Lulav

2. One Etrog

3. Two Aravot

4. Three Hadassim

Why are these four plants used instead of other plants? There are two primary explanations of the symbolic significance of these plants: that they represent different parts of the body, or that they represent different kinds of Jews.

According to the first interpretation, the long straight palm branch represents the spine. The myrtle leaf, which is a small oval, represents the eye. The willow leaf, a long oval, represents the mouth, and the Etrog fruit represents the heart.

All of these parts have the potential to be used for sin, but should join together in the performance of commandments and bring Divine Light into the world.

According to the second interpretation, the Etrog, which has both a pleasing taste and a pleasing scent, represents Jews who have achieved both knowledge of Torah and performance of mitzvot (commandments). The palm branch, which produces tasty fruit, but has no scent, represents Jews who have knowledge of Torah but are lacking in mitzvot. The myrtle leaf, which has a strong scent but no taste, represents Jews who perform mitzvot but have little knowledge of Torah. The willow, which has neither taste nor scent, represents Jews who have no knowledge of Torah and do not perform the mitzvot.

We bring all four of these species together on Sukkot to remind us that every one of these four kinds of Jews is important, and that we must all be united.

The Blessing for the Four Species

Take the etrog in your left hand with the stem (green tip) up and the pitam (brown tip) down. Take the lulav (including the palm, myrtle and willow branches bound together) in your right hand. Bring your hands together and recite the blessing below.

Barukh atah A-do-nai, Eloheinu, melekh ha-olam asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanu al n'tilat lulav (Amein) Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to take up the lulav (Amen) First Day Only Add: Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam shehecheyanu v'kiyimanu v'higi'anu laz'man hazeh. Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign king of the universe who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season (Amen) After you recite the blessing, turn the etrog so the stem is down and the pitam is up. (Be careful not to damage the pitam) With the lulav and etrog together, gently shake forward (East) three times, then pull the lulav and etrog back in front of your chest. Repeat this to the right (South), then over your right shoulder (West), then to the left (North), then up, then down.

Seven Guests

Sukkah generates an intense concentration of spiritual energy. During Sukkot the souls of the seven great leaders of Israel –Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph, and King David – actually leave Heavenly realm to partake in the Divine Light of Sukkot. Collectively these transcendent guests are known as Ushpizin, the Aramaic word meaning "guests."

Each of the seven Ushpizin correspond to a fundamental spiritual pathway through which the world is perfected

·                                 Abraham represents love and kindness

·                                 Isaac represents restraint and personal strength

·                                 Jacob represents beauty and truth

·                                 Moses represents eternality and dominance through Torah

·                                 Aaron represents empathy and receptivity to divine splendor

·                                 Joseph represents holiness and the spiritual foundation

·                                 David represents the establishment of the kingdom of Heaven on Eart

We can connect to these energies and learn from our great leaders.

Simchat Torah

Sukkot is the only holiday that really encompasses two holidays: Seven days of Sukkot and 2 Days of Shemini Atzeret [upon which we celebrate Simchat Torah on the second day]. These final two days begin at sundown on September 30, 2018 until nightfall on October 2 in 2018.



On this final day, it is customary to conclude and then immediately begin the annual cycle of Torah reading.

The highlight of this holiday is the boisterous singing and dancing in the synagogue, as the Torah scrolls are paraded in circles around.



Although the eighth day follows Sukkot, it is actually an independent holiday in many respects (we no longer take the Four Kinds or dwell in the sukkah). Jews outside of Israel still eat in the sukkah on the first of the two days of Shmini Atzeres.
 

The intermediate days (September 26  until sundown on September 30) are quasi holidays, known as Chol Hamoed, except for Shabbath.

One is permitted to drive and use electricity but should still act in ways fitting for a Holiday.

Water and Joy

On Sukkot, G‑d determines how much rain will fall that winter (the rainy season in Israel). Thus while every sacrifice in the Temple included wine libations poured over the altar, on Sukkot, water was also poured over the altar in a special ceremony. This ritual engendered such joy that it was celebrated with music, dancing and singing all night long. This celebration was called was “Simchat Beit Hasho’evah.”

Even today, when there is no Temple, it is customary to hold nightly celebrations that include singing and dancing (and even live music during the intermediate days of the holiday).

Inspirational Story

As we begin the New Year, we are humbled by the realization how dependant we are on our Creator. As we sit in the Sukkah during the Holiday of Sukkot, we are meant to ponder upon just how fragile our lives really are and how appreciative we must be of getting a gift of another year of Life. As the following true story illustrates. 

Had this not happened to me I would never have believed it. I was driving my smart car one day in Borough Park in New York  and for those of you that don’t know, a smart car is small and lightweight car. I stopped at a red light but I was daydreaming and when it became green I did not start driving right away. The driver in the car behind me – let’s call him Mr. Lexus – was very impatient and started honking his horn. As I started driving down the next block Mr. Lexus started to tailgate me and was overall acting in a very aggressive manner. Not wanting to be harassed I pulled over to the side and let Mr. Lexus move in front of me. 

As we came to the very next intersection the light was green and the Mr. Lexus rightfully proceeded to enter the intersection. When he was in middle the intersection a tow truck driving at 50 mph ran a red light and T-boned Mr. Lexus. The impact flipped Mr. Lexus’s car and send it tumbling over forty feet. Had I not moved over to let Mr. Lexus pass me, then I would have been in the intersection, and a driver of a smart car does not survive when a tow truck hits it at 50 mph. 

All of this started with the little detail of me having a daydream in my car. I guess what I am trying to say is that we sometimes have this idea that G-d is busy with the big issues of the world, the natural disasters, the climate change, and geopolitics. This story showed me that G-d is also involved in our day-to-day lives, and even a small detail like me getting harassed by an aggressive driver, was all part of a plan that was ultimately for my best. I came out of this not only shaken up because I almost lost my life but because I realized how precious and fragile life is. Enjoy every moment!

For my Short Russian video on the Holiday, please visit
http://youtu.be/czN9RjqG2gI

For more information visit

https://www.partnersintorah.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/sukkot.pdf