Succot-Amit

Sukkot

Four days after Yom Kippur, we celebrate the holiday of Sukkot.
The holiday is celebrated from the 15th of Tishri through the 21st or 22nd of Tishri, depending if you live in Israel or in the Diaspora.

Sukkot is called "The Time of our Rejoicing". How happy we are as we sit in our Succa, together with our family, eating, singing, telling stories -- just like in the days of old, when we first left Egypt, and lived in tents in the desert, while God protected us with His "Clouds of Glory".

During the festival of Succos, it is a Mitzvah to sit in a Succa, and to eat all our meals there.

Each day we also wave the Four Species of plants, in celebration of God's gift of bounty.

During the first day (or first two days outside of Israel) no creative activity is permitted. This is similar to Shabbat, with the exception of cooking from an existing flame, which is permitted on Yom Tov.

The remaining days of Sukkot are called Chol HaMoed, during which creative work activities are permitted.

The last day of Sukkot is called Hoshana Raba.

The day immediately following Sukkot is also a Yom Tov, called Shmini Atzeret ("Eighth Day of Assembly"). Outside of Israel, this Yom Tov extends two days, with the second day designated as Simchat Torah. This is when we finish reading the final portion of the Torah and begin a new cycle. We dance around the synagogue, holding the Torah scrolls, expressing joy in our treasured Torah.

Answer the following questions:
1. During Sukkot it's a mitzva to
sing songs
meet friends
eat in the Sukka
2. Sukkot is called the "The Time of our Rejoicing" because
We do good things
We are happy and remember the time we went out of Egypt
We eat in the Sukka
3. The days in which it's allowed to work are called
Sukkot days
Shmini Atzeret
Chol HaMoed
4. Simchat Torah is when we
start reading the Torah
finish reading the Torah
study the Torah the whole day
5. The last day of Sukkot is called
Hoshana Raba
Chol HaMoed
Shmini Atzeret
To learn more click here and here.

Wow, your father built a beautiful sukkah!
Did you help him?
Sure, I brought the first aid kit.

Building a Sukkah
There are a few guidelines to building a Sukkah.
The walls should be of temporary materials --- wood, sticks, and cloth are preferable to bricks or poured concrete;
Three walls are enough.
The most important part is what’s overhead. The roofing, or “schach”, can only be of branches that are no longer connected to the ground.
Make sure your Sukkah is under the skies, not under a roof or your neighbor’s apple tree.
The “schach” should be enough to give shade, but not so much that it blocks out the skies completely.

To learn more click here
Aish Hatora - how to build a Sukkah
Chabad -building the Sukka

Read these guidelines on how to build a Sukkah and then answer the following questions:

1. The Sukkah should have nothing hanging over it
True
False
2. A person should be able to stand in a Sukkah
True
False
3. You can build your Sukkah in an apartment balcony
True
False
4. A kosher Sukkah must have 4 walls
True
False
5. The roof must be made from material that grows from the ground
True
False
6. The Sukkah is kosher if you can see the stars during the night
True
False

Guests in the Sukkah

According to Maimonides it is a religious obligation to invite guests to the Sukkah:
"While eating and drinking himself, one is obligated to feed the stranger, orphan, and widow, along with the other unfortunate poor... [One who does not] is not enjoying a mitzvah, but rather his stomach" (Laws of Yom Tov 6:18).
Who are going to be your guests?

To learn more click on this link (advanced level):
The Seven Ushpizin Guests

Mini Project - Building a Sukkah

In this project you will work in a group and build a Sukkah in your community
for the benefit of everyone.
As a group you will have to make a few decisions:

a. Decide where you will build the Sukkah.
We'll build our Sukkah

b. Decide which materials you need to bring to build the Sukkah.
We need to bring

c. Decide who will bring which materials.

d. Decide which foods you will eat in the sukkah and who will bring which food.
e. Decide who the guests in your Sukkah will be and who will write the invitations.

f. Decide who will bring decorations.