Chapter 43 - SUKKOS (TABERNACLES)

On SUKKOS we are required to live in a SUKKAH (booth) in commemoration of the Exodus (625:1); on the laws relating to the SUKKAH see Ch.44. It is customary to begin building the SUKKAH immediately after YOM KIPPUR (624:5; 625:1). No blessing is recited when the SUKKAH is built; "...Who kept us alive..." (SHEHECHIYANU) is recited when making KIDDUSH there on the first night of SUKKOS (641:1).

On the evening service on the first night see 642:1. At the end of KIDDUSH, the blessings "...Who commanded us to sit in the SUKKAH" and "...Who kept us alive..." are recited (643:1); the KIDDUSH may be recited sitting down, before reciting the blessing on the SUKKAH (643:2). The blessing on the SUKKAH is also recited after KIDDUSH at the other Sabbath and holiday meals; on weekdays, it is recited when eating in the SUKKAH (639:8), after the blessing on bread (643:3).

On SUKKOS we are also required to hold a palm branch (LULAV), a citron (ESROG), myrtle twigs and willow twigs; on the laws relating to these four species see Ch.45. No blessing is recited when assembling the species (651:6). At the morning service on the first day, after the repetition of the AMIDAH, the four species are held; the blessings "...Who commanded us about holding a LULAV" and "...Who kept us alive..." are recited while standing (644:1;651:5); and HALLEL is recited (see 644:1-2). On the readings from the Torah and Prophets see 659:1. A Torah scroll is brought up to the BIMAH, and the congregation walk around it counterclockwise carrying the four species (660:1-2). On the seventh day, many Torah scrolls are brought up, and the congregation walk around them seven times (660:1); on that day, additional willow twigs are also carried around (660:2;664:1,3). The walking around is not done on the Sabbath; see 660:3.

At KIDDUSH on the second night, "...Who kept us alive..." precedes the blessing on the SUKKAH (661:1). On the second and subsequent days, "...Who kept us alive..." is not recited on the four species unless the first day was a Sabbath (662:1-2). On the readings from the Torah and Prophets see 662:3; on the readings on the intermediate days see 663:1. On the service and the readings from the Torah and Prophets on the intermediate Sabbath see 663:2-3; it is customary to read the Book of Ecclesiastes on that day, or on the eighth day if it is a Sabbath (663:2).

The morning service on the seventh day includes the additional Psalms that are recited on holidays (664:1). It is customary to immerse oneself, to wear a white garment, to light many candles, and to do no work until after the service (664:1). Willow twigs are held, in addition to those in the four species, but no blessing is recited on them (664:2). The twigs are waved and beaten against the ground (see 664:4); on other laws concerning the twigs see 664:4-11.

The eighth day (SHEMINI ATZERES) is a separate holiday (see 668:1); "...Who kept us alive..." is recited after KIDDUSH (668:1). On the readings from the Torah and Prophets see 668:2. Rain is mentioned in the second blessing of the AMIDAH beginning on that day (668:2). In the land of Israel, the annual reading of the Torah is completed, and started again, on that day (668:2); elsewhere, this is done on the ninth day (669:1). It is customary to take out all the Torah scrolls and march around the BIMAH with them, and to call many people, including children, to read from the Torah (repeating the reading many times); see 669:1.

Shulchan Aruch, Copyright (c) 2000 Project Genesis, Inc.