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Festival Holidays:

Blessings +Ritual s + Resources

Sukkot, Passover, Shavuot

The 3 Festivals (Shalosh Regalim) are major holidays connected to the Judaism of ancient Israel, when we would gather the seasonal harvest, and make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.

 

Blessing over the Candles

.בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ, בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב

Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha’olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel yom tov.

Blessed are You, Eternal One, Creator of the Universe, who has sanctified us with commandments, and commanded us to light festival candles.

 

Kiddush: Blessing over Wine or Grape Juice

 

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ . הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּֽפֶן.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר בָּֽחַר בָּֽנוּ מִכל עָם וְרוֹמְמָֽנוּ מִכל לָשׁוֹן וְקִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְותָיו.

וַתִּֽתֶּן לָֽנוּ, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ בְּאַהֲבָה מוֹעֲדִים לְשִׂמְחָה חַגִּים וּזְמַנִּים לְשָׂשׂוֹן אֶת יוֹם
(Passover) חַג הַמַּצּוֹת הַזֶּה

(Sukkot) חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת הַזֶּה

(Shavuot) חַג הַשָּׁבֻעוֹת הַזֶּה

זְמַן חֵרוּתֵֽנוּ מִקְרָא קֹֽדֶשׁ, זֵֽכֶר לִיצִיאַת מִצְרָֽיִם. כִּי בָֽנוּ בָחַֽרְתָּ וְאוֹתָֽנוּ קִדַּֽשְׁתָּ מִכל הָעַמִּים וּמוֹעֲדֵי קדְשְׁךָ בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְשָׂשׂוֹן הִנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ, מְקַדֵּשׁ
יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהַזְּמַנִּים.

Baruch atah, Adonai,
Eloheinu melech haolam,
borei p’ri hagafen.


Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher bachar banu mikol am, v'rom'manu mikol lashon, v'kid'shanu b'mitzvotav.

Vatiten lanu, Adonai Eloheinu, b'ahavah mo-adim l'simchah, chagim uz'manim l'sason, et yom 

Chag HaMatzot hazeh (Passover)

Chag HaSukkot hazeh (Sukkot)

Chag HaShavuot hazeh (Shavuot)

Z'man cheiruteinu, mikra kodesh, zeicher litziat Mitzrayim. Ki vanu vacharta v'otanu kidashta mikol haamim umo-adei kodsh'cha b'simchah uv'sason hinchaltanu.

Baruch atah, Adonai m'kadeish Yisrael v'hazmanim.

Praise to You, Eternal One, Creator of the universe, who has chosen us from among the peoples, exalting us by hallowing us with mitzvot. In Your love, Eternal One, You have given us feasts of gladness, and seasons of joy: this Festival of [Passover/Sukkot/Shavuot], season of our receiving Torah, a sacred occasion, a remembrance of the Exodus from Egypt. For You have chosen us from all the peoples and consecrated us to Your service, and given us the Festivals, a time of gladness and joy. Praised to You, God, who sanctifies Israel and the Festivals.

Shehechianu

.בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָּ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָּעוֹלָּם שֶהֶחֱיָּנוּ וְקִיְמָּנוּ וְהִגִיעָּנוּ לַזְמַן הַזֶה

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha’olam shehecheyanu, v’kiyemanu, v’higiyanu lazman hazeh.

Blessed are You, Eternal One, Creator of the Universe, who has kept us alive and sustained us and enabled us to reach this time.

 
 
 

Additional Festival Blessings

Hamotzi: Blessing over Challah

.בָּרוּך אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶך הָעוֹלָם הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ

Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz.

Blessed are You, Eternal One, Creator of the Universe, who has brought forth bread from the earth.

Blessing over Matzah

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצוָּנוּ עַל אֲכִילַת מַצָּה.

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech haolam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al achilat matzah.

Blessed are You, Eternal One, Creator of the universe, who hallows us with mitzvot, commanding us to eat Matzah.

Blessing for Sitting in a Sukkah

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ, מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם,אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּֽנוּ לֵישֵׁב בַּסֻּכָּה

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech haolam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu leisheiv basukkah.

Blessed are You, Eternal One, Creator of the universe: who hallows us with commandments, commanding us to dwell in the sukkah.

 

Resources

Shavuot 2023//5783

  • Tikkun Leil Shavuot with Exploring Judaism: This learning will go into the night, starting on Thursday, May 25th at 8 PM, and features an impressive slate of leaders and learners. Sing and bless, dig into a variety of learning topics. Build online community with learners across time zones and space, while learning about Jewish community structures outside of traditional buildings, and “hang by a thread” as you become comfortable with what you don’t – and can’t – know. Gather round, grab a dairy snack, and learn with us into the night!

  • Blue Dove Shavuot Resources: On Shavuot, Blue Dove encourages you to pause and reflect on how far you have come, how you are doing, and where you are going on your road to mental wellness. They have readings, resources, and exercises to explore mental health + Shavuot.

  • Shabbat + Shavuot Learning @ Etz Hayim of Arlington: One of the most famous traditions of Shavuot is to dedicate a night of study to prepare ourselves to receive Torah again. This is called a Tikkun, an enhancement, an upgrade on our spiritual software to be better partners with God in creating a better world. Amazing speakers, teachers, musicians, and food!