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1. Initial Day(s) A. The mitzvah of preparing a festive table and meals. B. The mitzvah of lighting the festival candles with the proper blessing. C. The mitzvah of saying the festival KIDDUSH (Blessing over wine). D. The mitzvah of reciting HAMOTZI (Blessing over bread). E. The mitzvah of reciting the SHEHECHIYANU blessing. F. The mitzvah of saying BIRKAT HAMAZON (Blessing after the meals). G. The mitzvah of singing Z'MIROT (holiday songs) at meals, particularly verses from the HALLEL (thanksgiving) Psalms. H. The mitzvah of building a SUKKAH (booth) and doing all the above in the SUKKAH. Add the blessing "LEI'SHEIV BASUKKAH" to the festival KIDDUSH. I. The mitzvah of attending worship services on Sukkot. J. The mitzvah of concluding the initial day(s) with HAVDALLAH. 2. CHOL HAMOED (Intermediate Days) A. The mitzvah of eating as many meals as possible in the sukkah. (See below for more details.) B. The mitzvah of taking up the Four Species (ARBA MINIM) -- the LULAV and ETROG -- and saying the blessings, on as many days as possible. (See below for more details.) C. The mitzvah of attending services on as many of the intermediate days as possible and participating in the HASHANOT (processions). D. Reenact the gaiety of the ancient custom of SIMCHAT BEIT HASHO'EVAH (the symbolic first drawing of water from a major well in Jerusalem on the first night of CHOL HAMOED, which was accompanied by all kinds of festivities -- music, dance, gymnastics -- See Mishnah Sukkot 5:1-4 -- as is now done on some kibbutzim in Israel.) E. The mitzvah of attending services on HOSHANAH RABBAH (the seventh day of Sukkot). This day, so named for its special prayers for salvation, is considered as the sequel to the Days of Awe, the last chance for repentance. I. Join in the sevenfold HOSHANOT (processions) with the Torah scrolls, LULAV and ETROG. II. Take up special willow branches during the special penitential prayers and beat them on the ground at the conclusion of the service. III. Study all night HOSHANAH RABBAH. Review selected portions of the Bible and Mishnah or make your own selections (see Spoke F). 3. SHEMINI ATZERET/SIMCHAT TORAH (Shemini Atzeret -- the eighth day of assembly -- is actually the last day of Sukkot but is considered a special festival. Traditionally it runs two days -- the second day being Simchat Torah -- but in Israel and in the Reform movement, only one day, which includes features of both, is celebrated.) A. The mitzvah of lighting candles, saying KIDDUSH, HAMOTZI, SHEHECHIYANU and BIRKAT HAMAZON the evening of Shemini Atzeret. The mitzvah of attending services on Shemini Atzeret. Say the prayer for rain (GESHEM) and attend the memorial service (YIZKOR). B. The mitzvah of attending services on Simchat Torah. Hear the conclusion and beginning anew of the Torah. Join in the special sevenfold HAKAFOT (processions) with all the Torah scrolls. C. The mitzvah of carrying the Torah around, and/or of taking an aliyah in honor of the Torah. D. The mitzvah of concluding the festival with HAVDALLAH. The mitzvah of the Four Species (ARBA MINIM): (The Four Species consist of the ETROG [citron], and LULAV [palm branch plus three myrtle and two willow twigs all bound together.]) The mitzvah of holding the LULAV and ETROG and moving them in all directions while saying the proper blessings. Do this on as many days as possible. Carry the Four Species in the HAKAFOT (processions) during Sukkot. Do this on as many days as possible. Buy your own LULAV and ETROG and do both of the above. Treat, or contribute to a fund to treat, someone else to a LULAV and ETROG. The mitzvah of identifying with KLAL YISRAEL (the Community of Israel): Recite HOSHANOT (hymns for salvation) and participate in the HAKAFOT. Say the prayer for rain in the land of Israel (GESHEM) on Shemini Atzeret. Copyright (c) 1988 by CLAL, written by Rabbi Anson Laytner, Author of "Arguing with God: A Jewish Tradition"
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