Sukkot: A Joyous Ingathering
The Festival of Sukkot invites us to have a heightened sense of our fragility and vulnerability, and at the same time it reminds us of the incredible power of community, and what we can build when we come together…
Sukkot begins on September 29th and ends on October 6th
Sukkot in Community
Building a Sukkah
Need a Sukkah? Special Discount to the Den Community from The Sukkah Project:
Use Code: theden for 6% off any order from sukkot.com
Or use this direct link: www.sukkot.com/theden to automatically apply the discount
Shipping is 1-2 days. Order by September 26th to get your sukkah in time for Sukkot
Free Sukkah Offer: members of the Den have graciously offered to gift their sukkah to someone who would like to build one this year! Please reach out if you’re interested.
Festive Sukkot Meals
Looking to celebrate at festive Sukkot meals with folks from the Den? Whether you have a sukkah to host in, or you’re looking to join a meal with others, please fill out this form and we’ll help you to connect with new and familiar faces at the Den!
Learning + Gathering in the Sukkah
Festive Sukkot Dinner @ Rabbi Aderet’s Family Sukkah
Friday, September 29 • 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Join Rabbi Aderet and her family in their Sukkah to celebrate the first night of Sukkot. We’ll gather outdoors and under the stars for an evening of dynamic learning, meaningful conversation, and a delicious kosher and vegetarian meal. Seating is limited and registration is on a first-come first-served basis. (We know life happens and plans change. If you signed up and for some reason your plans change, please contact us before the RSVP date so we can open up your seat for someone else, thank you!) The Sukkah is located in Bethesda.
Sign-up for this gathering is full. Reach out if you’d like to be connected with folks from the Den for festive meals over Sukkot.
Fragility + Comfort: A Sukkot Dinner + Learning Experience
Wednesday, October 4 • 7:30pm - 9pm
Sukkot is a holiday of joyous celebration, and it takes place in a temporary, not-so-sturdy structure. How do we understand the combination of this fragile home and the comfort of celebration + good company? Join Rabbi Jenna in the Congregation Etz Hayim of Arlington Sukkah for an evening of delicious food and community connections as we explore these contrasting themes and the symbolism of the sukkah. Kosher, vegetarian dinner will be provided. All are welcome!
Please sign up by Monday, October 2nd.
Sukkot Siyum Luncheon: A Communal Celebration of Beginnings + Endings
Saturday, October 7th • 12:30-2:30pm
In Jewish tradition, when we finish studying a text, it’s customary to get together for a siyum, a festive meal commemorating the conclusion of learning. The Den’s peer-led Mussar Circle participants have spent the past year studying and discussing the book, Everyday Holiness, inspiring an ethical framework for living and spiritual development. The Den community is invited to join in this siyum celebration! We’ll enjoy a delicious lunch in the Sukkah, learn about ways to integrate Mussar ethics into our lives, and celebrate our fellow community members for their incredible achievement! Everyone is truly welcome. Your presence will infuse joy and merriment into our communal celebration. This gathering will be held in Maryland. Please sign up by Thursday, October 5th.
Resources + Rituals for Your Sukkot Celebrations
Tashlich Ceremony: Created with care by Rabbis Aderet + Jenna. Try it out from the second day of Rosh Hashana and until the end of Sukkot (10/6). Here’s a brief video on the Tashlich ritual.
DIY Sukkot Activities: From the good folks at HighHolidays@Home, check out this mix of traditional and reimagined rituals, to guide you through the week of Sukkot.
HIAS Sukkot Resources: More than 82 million refugees and displaced people—from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan, Honduras, Venezuela, Syria and many other countries—wander the earth in search of a safe place to call home. This Sukkot, invite eight of these individuals into your sukkah to tell their stories by placing their photos and accompanying narrative in your Sukkah; download these here.
Simchat Torah Cocktails: On Saturday night, 10/7 through Sunday, 10/8 we’ll celebrate the holiday of Simchat Torah. On Simchat Torah, we dance with the Torah Scrolls as if at a wedding, joyously unrolling and re-rolling the Torah so we can begin the Torah-reading cycle anew.
Candle Lighting Times:
Friday, September 29: 1st night of Sukkot (Erev Sukkot), light @ 6:36pm
Saturday, September 30: 2nd festival night, light after 7:35pm
Friday, October 6: Shabbat + Shemini Atzeret, light @ 6:25pm
Saturday, October 7: Simchat Torah, light after 7:24pm
Sunday, October 8: Simchat Torah ends at 7:22pm
Chag Sukkot Sameach – חג סוכות שמח