Sukkot Chol Hamoed 5775

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Sukkot (Leviticus 22:26-23:44 )

GOOD MORNING!   Wednesday evening, October 8th, begins Sukkot (or Sukkos in the Ashkenazi pronunciation). Next week comes Shemini Atzeres (Wednesday evening, October 15th) and Simchas Torah (starting Thursday evening, October 16th)! In Israel, Simchas Torah is observed concurrently with Shemini Atzeres since they celebrate only one day of Yom Tov. However, outside of Israel we celebrate two days of Yom Tov -- and they are celebrated on separate days.

Shemini Atzeret is actually a separate festival adjacent to Sukkot. Rashi, the great Biblical commentator, explains that atzeret is an expression of affection, as would be used by a father to children who are departing from him. The father would say, "Your departure is difficult for me, tarry yet another day." The Jewish people prayed and brought offerings all the days of Sukkot so that the 70 nations of the world would have rain in the coming year. The Torah and the Almighty keeps us one more day for a special holiday to make requests just for ourselves. That's Shemini Atzeret.

Simchas Torah is the celebration of completing the yearly cycle of Torah reading and beginning it again. The evening and again the next morning are filled with dance and songs rejoicing in the Torah and thanking God for our being Jewish and that the Almighty gave us the Torah! We read the last Torah portion in Deuteronomy, Vezot Habracha and then begin immediately with Bereshit, starting the book of Genesis. If you take your kids to synagogue twice a year -- one time should be Simchas Torah!

The Torah portion we read on Simchas Torah is Vezot Habracha. It begins with the blessings that Moshe gives to the Jewish people and each tribe right before he dies. Then Moshe ascends Mt. Nebo where the Almighty shows him all of the land the Jewish people are about to inherit. He dies, is buried in the valley in an unknown spot, the Jewish people mourn for 30 days. The Torah then concludes with the words, "Never again has there arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Almighty had known face to face ..."

Yizkor, the memorial service for parents and relatives -- and Jews who have been killed because they were Jewish or in defending the Jewish people and Israel -- is observed Thursday morning, October 16th.

 

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Torah Portion of the week

Shabbat Chol HaMoed Sukkot:
Exodus, Ki Sisa 33:12-34:26

Moshe pleads to the Almighty to "make known to me Your ways." The Almighty commands Moshe to carve two stone tablets to replace the Tablets that Moshe destroyed bearing the 10 Commandments. Moshe carves them and ascends Mt. Sinai. The Almighty descends in a cloud and reveals to Moshe the 13 Attributes of Divine Mercy which are constantly repeated in the Yom Kippur prayers. Moshe asks the Almighty to "forgive our transgressions and make us Your Heritage".

The Almighty responds that He shall seal a covenant with us. The Almighty then warns the Jewish people against idol worship (idolatry is believing that anything other than the Almighty has power). The reading ends with the Almighty commanding us to keep the Festivals -- Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot.

 

Candle Lighting Times

October 10
(or go to http://www.aish.com/sh/c/)

Jerusalem 5:373
Guatemala 5:27 - Hong Kong 5:45 - Honolulu 5:53
J'Burg 5:53 - London 6:01 - Los Angeles 6:08
Melbourne 6:14 - Mexico City 6:59 - Miami 6:40
New York 6:05 - Singapore 6:36 - Toronto 6:25

Quote of the Week

Happiness is joy digesting

 

 

In Loving Memory of

Mae Averbook
Chana bas Avraham

Daniel Averbook

 

     
With Deep Appreciation to

Dr. Geoff Weisbaum

 

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