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Sukkot Holiday
 

For forty years, as our ancestors traversed the Sinai Desert prior to their entry into the Holy Land, miraculous "clouds of glory" surrounded and hovered over them, shielding them from the dangers and discomforts of the desert. Ever since, we remember G‑d's kindness and reaffirm our trust in His providence by dwelling in a sukkah – a hut of temporary construction with a roof-covering of branches – for the duration of the autumn Sukkot festival. For seven days and nights, we eat all our meals in the sukkah – reciting a special blessing – and otherwise regard it as our home. Some even sleep there.
 

 
On Wednesday October 4th at 6.14.PM begins Sukkot holyday. We eat and drink in the sukkah until Thursday October 12th at 7.00.PM.
On Thursday, October 5th during the day you should bless on the Lulav (palm branch), Etrog (citron), myrtle and willow.
 
G-d took us out of Egypt 3329 years ago and surrounded us with holy clouds in the desert for 40 years, therefore he wants us to sit in the sukkah. The Sukkah is like clouds. Additionally, on Sukkot there is a big Mitzvah to be happy, even more than any other holiday. And another thing in this holiday is unity. This is why we shay the Lulav (palm branch), Etrog (citron), myrtle, and willow all together. Since each one of them symbolizes a different type of person, and with binding them all together, we create a unity between all types of people and personalities.

The Lulav (palm branch) that has a taste but no smell, symbolizes a person that knows the Torah, but does not do good deeds and Mitzvoth. Smell symbolizes good deeds, and taste symbolizes the Torah.

The Etrog (citron) which has a good smell and taste, symbolizes the person who has good deeds and learns Torah,

The Myrtle which only has a good smell but has no taste, symbolizes a person who has only good deeds, but does not know Torah.

The Willow symbolizes a person that has no good deeds nor Torah.
When we make a blessing on the four species, we unite all Jews together.
 
How to bless on the four species?

Every day of Sukkot besides for Shabbat, you take the Lulav with its spine facing you, bundled with three myrtle branches and tow willows in our right hand, (a lefty, does the opposite and takes the Lulav in his left hand), and recite the following blessing:
"Blessed are you, lord our God, king of the universe, who has sanctified us with his commandments, and commanded us concerning the taking of the Lulav."
Now take the Etrog in our left hand (a lefty takes it in his right hand). Put the Lulav and Etrog together, and shake up and down and to all four sides of the world.
The first time (each Sukkot) that one recites the blessing over the Lulav, he recites the following blessing after picking up the Etrog, before putting it together with the Lulav and shaking:
 "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."



Light Candles: Women and girls are lighting candles on Sukkot Eve about 20 minutes before sunset, as on Friday, and recite the blessing:

"Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of Yom Tov". 

And the blessing: "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".

 
 
 
The Lubavicher Rebbe on the holiday of Sukkot
 
 



     
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