Shabbos 250
SUKKOS

Sukkos. Seven days in the sukkah.

Build or borrow a sukkah, eat meals in it for 7 days, and wave the lulav + esrog each morning.

PRINTABLE PACKET

Print your Sukkos packet.

PDF — cover, the five essentials, step-by-step, the blessings, your shopping list, and a one-page FAQ. Personalized with your local times when you set your ZIP.

Without a ZIP we still print the full guide; just no candle-lighting time.
FIVE ESSENTIALS

What you really need to know.

01
Build or find a sukkah
A temporary hut with at least three walls, covered with schach (plant material, not nailed down). Eat in it for 7 days.
02
Get a kosher lulav + esrog
A lulav (palm), three hadasim (myrtle), two aravos (willow), and one esrog (citron). Purchased through a reliable source.
03
Eat in the sukkah
All meals (anything bigger than a snack of bread or grain) are eaten in the sukkah for 7 days.
04
Wave the lulav daily
Each morning of Sukkos (except Shabbos), wave the lulav + esrog in 6 directions during Hallel.
05
Shemini Atzeres + Simchas Torah after
Day 8 (Shemini Atzeres in diaspora) is a separate yom tov; day 9 is Simchas Torah, when we celebrate finishing + restarting the Torah.
STEP-BY-STEP

Sukkos, one step at a time.

  1. BEFORE SUKKOS

    Build your sukkah.

    Walls + schach. Check that the schach lets some stars through but blocks more sun than light. Decorations welcome.

  2. NIGHT 1

    Light candles + Shehecheyanu.

    Light Yom Tov candles before sundown. Recite blessing + Shehecheyanu (for the new holiday).

  3. NIGHT 1

    First meal in the sukkah.

    Recite Kiddush + Shehecheyanu + the bracha for sitting in the sukkah, then Hamotzi.

  4. EACH MORNING

    Wave the lulav (except Shabbos).

    During Hallel — east, south, west, north, up, down. The bracha is said only the first time.

  5. DAYS 3-7

    Chol HaMoed sukkah days.

    Continue eating in the sukkah, waving the lulav, and celebrating with family.

  6. DAY 7

    Hoshana Rabba.

    The seventh day. Special prayers, then beat 5 aravos on the floor at the end of Hallel.

  7. DAY 8 (DIASPORA)

    Shemini Atzeres + Yizkor.

    Separate yom tov. Yizkor is recited. Geshem (prayer for rain) is added.

  8. DAY 9 (DIASPORA)

    Simchas Torah.

    Hakafos with the Torah scrolls — circle the bimah seven times with singing and dancing. The Torah cycle ends and restarts.

BLESSINGS

What to say, and when.

Before eating a bread / grain meal in the sukkah

Leishev BaSukkah

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לֵישֵׁב בַּסֻּכָּה

Baruch atah Adonai… leishev basukkah.

…who has commanded us to dwell in the sukkah.

Each morning, before waving the lulav (with Shehecheyanu the first day)

Al Netilas Lulav

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל נְטִילַת לוּלָב

Baruch atah Adonai… al netilas lulav.

…who has commanded us concerning the taking of the lulav.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

Shopping & prep list.

  • ·Lulav set (lulav, esrog, hadasim, aravos)
  • ·Sukkah kit + schach (or arrange to use a community sukkah)
  • ·Decorations (paper chains, fruits, lights — anything that beautifies the mitzvah)
  • ·Yom Tov candles for both yom tovim
  • ·Meals enough for 7 days of in-sukkah dining
  • ·Wine / grape juice for Kiddush each yom tov + Shabbos
TEFILLAH NOTES
  • Hallel each morning of Sukkos.
  • Yaaleh V'Yavo all 9 days.
  • Geshem (prayer for rain) starting Mussaf of Shemini Atzeres.
  • Yizkor on Shemini Atzeres only.
  • Hakafos seven times around the bimah on Simchas Torah.
FAQ

Common questions.

How many walls does a sukkah need?

A minimum of three walls (or 2 walls + a partial third). The schach (roof) must be plant material that grew from the ground but is no longer attached.

What if I don't have a sukkah?

Ask your shul or local Chabad — they almost always have one. Many neighbors invite anyone in their community for at least one meal.

Do I sleep in the sukkah?

The custom is to sleep in the sukkah too, but climate, safety, and family considerations come first. Many only eat in it.

When do I shake the lulav?

During Hallel on each morning of Sukkos except Shabbos. The shaking happens at "Hodu" and the final "Ana".

See Sukkos on your calendar.

100 years of local candle lighting and Havdalah times — including every Sukkos between now and 2126.

Open the calendar
Build My Packet