Sukkot 5783: Celebrating Sukkot at TBA and at home
Dinner in the TBA Sukkah, Ordering Lulav and Etrog, Building a SukkahSukkot service, Monday, Oct. 10, 10 AM to 12 PM
Friday, Oct. 14, 7:30-9 PM
Social Action Dinner in the Sukkah
Believe it or not, Sukkot is fast approaching! Below, you’ll find resources for building a sukkah.
Since have been staying in our permanent dwellings for so many months, Sukkot offers us an opportunity to re-experience the senses, take in the outdoors, and notice the world around us.
On to the building! Sukkah building is not just a great family activity, it connects us back to our ancestors wandering in the desert, seeking shelter and protection amid 40 years of uncertainty.There are a few specific laws of sukkah building, which are stated very clearly at this link. To sum it up, a sukkah must have 2.5 walls, be sturdy enough to withstand an ordinary wind, have more shade than sun, and the schach (the roofing on the sukkah) should be detached from the ground and nature-based (leaves, branches, a bamboo mat, etc.).
This first sukkah building link is much more my speed! It looks like you just need 9 diamond lattice panels, 2′ x 6′ or 2′ x 8′ for the walls, a pack of zip-ties, and a couple of cinder blocks to tie it all together and keep it steady.
For the handier amongst us, here is a link to a PVC-based sukkah, which will probably require a run to the hardware store.
Many more additional resources can be found online. We invite you to experiment with what you find and make it your own with decorations and adornments.
Happy Building!
Shanah Tovah,
Rabbi David Z. Vaisberg
Cantor Jessica Epstein
Rabbi Max Edwards
Ordering a lulav and etrog
Please click this link if you wish to order a lulav and etrog set for your home. The cost is $48/set; sets may be picked up at TBA during the week between Yom Kippur and Sukkot. An email will go out once sets have been ordered with pick-up information. The order deadline is Sunday, September 25 – Erev Rosh Hashanah. A lulav assembly sheet will be included in the set.
On Sunday, October 16, when Sukkot comes to an end, see below for a number of ways to ‘upcycle’ your etrog!
An etrog makes for a fantastic havdalah spice. Click here for instructions on how to insert cloves into an etrog and here for a tutorial on drying out etrog slices. Etrogs also make for a wonderful liqueur; click here for a step-by-step recipe.