Sukkot Blessings

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There are a number of different prayers and blessings on this page that are recited at various times during this seven-day holiday. To help you see how all the pieces fit together, here is a breakdown by day:

First Night
Candles are lit at least 18 minutes before sunset, officially starting the holiday. These can be lit in the sukkah or in the home but be careful not to set the sukkah on fire!
Evening Kiddush is recited any time in the evening after candlelighting, usually right before dinner and usually in the sukkah, but do not drink the wine yet! If you are in the sukkah, recite the blessing for dwelling in the sukkah first. Whether you are in the sukkah or not, follow Kiddush with Shehecheyanu, (prayer for something you haven't done in a long time) then drink the wine.
Second Night
Candles are lit after nightfall, that is, after it is dark enough to see three stars.
Evening Kiddush is recited followed by the blessing for dwelling in the sukkah if you are making Kiddush there, but Shehecheyanu is not normally recited on the second night.
All Days
Any time you are spending time in the sukkah, recite the blessing for dwelling in the sukkah right after you enter. You do not need to repeat it if you leave only briefly.
If you have a lulav and etrog, on all days except Shabbat you should say the Blessing and wave it, either at home in the morning, in the sukkah if you like, or in synagogue during services. This should be done in the daytime, when you can see the lulav and etrog with natural light.
7th Day: Last Time in the Sukkah
The last time you are in the sukkah for the holiday, usually toward the end of the 7th day of the holiday, you should say the farewell to the Sukkah as you are leaving.

When the first night of Sukkot occurs on Shabbat, as it does in 2023 (September 29) and 2026 (September 25), some text is added to candlelighting and Kiddush in honor of the Sabbath. This text is highlighted in yellow and should only be read on Shabbat. The toggle below can hide the Shabbat text to reduce confusion if your browser supports the toggle feature.

 
Shabbat     Weekdays

Lighting Candles

This is the same candlelighting blessing that is recited on most holidays. On the first night, candles should be lit no later than 18 minutes before sundown. On the second night, candles should be lit immediately after nightfall, kindled by an existing flame. For the candle lighting time in your area, consult the list provided by the Orthodox Union or any Jewish calendar.

The words highlighted in yellow should be read only on Shabbat.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ
Barukh atah Adonai
Blessed are you, Lord
אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
our God, sovereign of the universe
אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְְוֹתָיו
asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav
Who has sanctified us with His commandments
וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר
v'tzivanu l'hadlik neir
and commanded us to light the lights
שֶׁל שַׁבָּת וְשֶׁל
shel shabbat v'shel
of Shabbat and of
יוֹם טוֹב׃ (אָמֵן)
yom tov (Amein)
the holiday (Amen)

Sukkot Evening Kiddush

Kiddush is recited on the first and second nights of Sukkot while holding a cup of wine or other liquid, no less than 3.3 ounces. If wine or grape juice is not used, you should substitute shehakol nih'yeh bid'varo (by whose will all things come to be) for borei p'ri hagafen (who creates the fruit of the vine).

This kiddush is very similar to the one used on Passover and Shavu'ot with slight variations specific to the holiday. The parts that are different for Sukkot are highlighted in silver to help you see what is special about this kiddush. The rest is basically the same as the kiddush for other holidays.

When the first night occurs on Friday night (Shabbat), we insert the first paragraph of Shabbat kiddush highlighted in yellow below. There are also a few other bits added for Shabbat, reminding us that it is Shabbat as well as Sukkot. Because of the way Rosh Hashanah is calculated, the second night never occurs on Shabbat.

Do not drink the wine until after completing Shechecheyanu below.

If you would like to hear the festival kiddush, check out this MP3 of the Passover Kiddush, which is exactly the same as Sukkot kiddush with two exceptions: chag ha-Sukkot instead of chag ha-matzot, and z'man simchateynu instead of z'man cheyruteynu. Audio courtesy of Cantor Sam Weiss of the Jewish Community Center of Paramus New Jersey.

וַיְהִי־עֶרֶב וַיְהִי־בֹקֶר
Vay'hi erev vay'hi voker
And there was evening and there was morning
יוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי:
yom hashishi.
a sixth day.
וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ
Vay'khulu hashamayim v'ha'aretz
The heavens and the earth were finished
וְכָל־צְבָאָם:
v'khol tz'va'am.
the whole host of them.
וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי
vay'khal elohim bayom hash'vi'i
And on the seventh day God completed
מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה
m'la'kh'to asher asah.
his work that he had done.
וַיִּשְׁבֹּת בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי
vayish'bot bayom hash'vi'i
and he rested on the seventh day
מִכָּל־מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה
mikol m'la'kh'to asher asah.
from all his work that he had done.
וַיְבָרֶךְ אֱלֹהִים אֶת־יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי
Vay'varekh Elohim et yom hash'vi'i
And God blessed the seventh day
וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ
vay'kadeish oto
and He sanctified it
כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל־מְלַאכְתּוֹ
ki vo shavat mikol m'la'kh'to
because in it he had rested from all his work
אֲשֶׁר־בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים לַעֲשׂוֹת:
asher bara Elohim la'asot.
that God had created to do.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ
Barukh atah Adonai
Blessed are you, Lord
אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
our God, sovereign of the universe

if using wine or grape juice

בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן׃ (אָמֵן)
borei p'ri hagafen (Amein)
Who creates the fruit of the vine (Amen)

if using other liquids

שֶׁהַכֹּל נִהְיֶה בִּדְבָרוֹ׃ (אָמֵן)
shehakol nih'yeh bid'varo (Amein)
Who made all things exist through His word (Amen)

 

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ
Barukh atah Adonai
Blessed are you, Lord
אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
our God, sovereign of the universe
אֲשֶׁר בָּחַר בָּנוּ מִכָּל עָם
asher bachar banu mikol am
who has chosen us from among all people
וְרוֹמְמָנוּ מִכָּל לָשׁוֹן
v'rom'manu mikol lashon
and exalted us above every tongue
וְקִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו
v'kid'shanu b'mitz'votav
and sanctified us with His commandments
וַתִּתֶּן לָנוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ בְּאַהֲבָה
vatiten lanu Adonai Eloheinu b'ahavah
and you gave us, Lord our God, with love
שַׁבָּתוֹת לִמְנוּחָה וּ
shabbatot lim'nucha u'
Sabbaths for rest and
מוֹעֲדִים לְשִׂמְחָה
mo'adim l'sim'chah
appointed festivals for gladness
חַגִּים וּזְמַנִּים לְשָׂשׂוֹן
chagim uz'manim l'sason
festivals and times for joy
אֶת יוֹם
et yom
this day of
הַשַּׁבָּת הַזֶּה וְאֶת יוֹם
ha-shabbat hazeh v'et yom
the Sabbath and this day of
חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת הַזֶּה
chag hasukot hazeh
this Festival of Sukkot
זְמַן שִׂמְחָתֵֽנוּ
z'man sim'chateinu
the time of our gladness
בְּאַהֲבָה מִקְרָא קֹֽדֶשׁ
b'ahavah mik'ra kodesh
with love a holy convocation
זֵֽכֶר לִיצִיאַת מִצְרָֽיִם
zeikher litzi'at mitz'rayim
a memorial of the exodus from Egypt
כִּי בָֽנוּ בָחַֽרְתָּ
ki vanu vachar'ta
because You have chosen us
וְאוֹתָֽנוּ קִדַּֽשְׁתָּ
v'otanu kidash'ta
and made us holy
מִכָּל הָעַמִּים
mikol ha'amim
from all peoples
וְשַׁבָּת וּמוֹעֲדֵי קָדְשֶֽׁך
v'shabat umo'adei kad'shekha
and the Sabbath and your holy festivals
בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן
b'ahavah uv'ratzon
in love and favor
בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְשָׂשׂוֹן
b'simchah u-v'sason
in gladness and in joy
הִנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ
hin'chal'tanu
you have given us for an inheritance
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ
Barukh atah Adonai
Blessed are you, Lord
מְקַדֵּשׁ הַשַּׁבָּת וְ
m'kadeishhashabat v'
who sanctifies Shabbat and
יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהַזְּמַנִּים (אָמֵן)
Yis'ra'eil v'haz'manim (Amein)
Israel and the seasons (Amen)

Don't drink the wine yet! There are two more blessings!

Blessing for Dwelling in the Sukkah

This blessing should be recited at any time you are fulfilling the mitzvah of dwelling in the sukkah, for example, before you eat a meal in the sukkah. It doesn't have to be recited every time you go in and out, just when you begin a new session of dwelling in the sukkah.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ
Barukh atah Adonai
Blessed are you, Lord
אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
our God, sovereign of the universe
אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְְוֹתָיו
asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav
Who has sanctified us with His commandments
וְצִוָּנוּ
v'tzivanu
and commanded us
לֵישֵׁב בַּסֻּכָּה (אָמֵן)
leisheiv basukah (Amein)
to dwell in the sukkah (Amen)

Shehecheyanu: Who Has Kept Us Alive

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ
Barukh atah Adonai
Blessed are you, Lord
אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
our God, sovereign of the universe
שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ
shehecheyanu v'kiyimanu, v'higi'anu
who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us
לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה׃ (אָמֵן)
laz'man hazeh. (Amein)
to reach this season (Amen)

Drink the Kiddush wine after the Shehecheyanu blessing.

Blessing over the Arba Minim (Four Species)

One of the commandments of Sukkot is to take the arba minim (four species) and wave them each day of the holiday (except Shabbat). This is normally done during morning services in synagogue, before the Hallel prayers, but I like to do it in my sukkah in the morning before going to synagogue. Both customs are common and acceptable.

Waving Procedure - Animated GIF

Stand facing the east (or whatever direction is toward Jerusalem from where you are).

Take the etrog in your left hand with the stem (green tip) up and the pitam (brown tip) down. Take the lulav (including the palm, myrtle and willow branches bound together) in your right hand. Bring your hands together and recite the blessing below.

After you recite the blessing, turn the etrog so the stem is down and the pitam is up. Be careful not to damage the pitam! With the lulav and etrog together, gently shake forward (East) three times, then pull the lulav and etrog back in front of your chest. Repeat this to the right (South), then over your right shoulder (West), then to the left (North), then up, then down.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ
Barukh atah Adonai
Blessed are you, Lord
אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
our God, sovereign of the universe
אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו
asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav
Who has sanctified us with His commandments
וְצִוָּנוּ
v'tzivanu
and commanded us
עַל נְטִילַת לוּלָב (אָמֵן)
al n'tilat lulav (Amein)
to take up the lulav (Amen)

Farewell to the Sukkah

Some explanation of this unusual blessing is in order: The Talmud teaches that when the messiah comes, the righteous will come to Jerusalem and the Leviathan (a giant sea creature created on the fifth day, Genesis 1:21) will be slain. Its skin will be used to make the walls of a giant sukkah, and the righteous will dine on the flesh of the Leviathan in that sukkah (Bava Batra 75a 4-6). Thus, the essence of this farewell prayer is the hope that the messiah will come within the next year.

יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ
Y'hi ratzon mil'fanekha
May it be Your will
יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ
Adonai Eloheinu vei'lohei avoteinu
Lord, our God and God of our ancestors
כְּשֵׁם שֶׁקִּיַּֽמְתִּי
k'sheim shekiyam'ti
that just as I got up [did my duty]
וְיָשַֽׁבְתִּי בְּסֻכָּה זוּ
v'yashav'ti basukah zu
and dwelled in this sukkah
כֵּן אֶזְכֶּה לְשָׁנָה הַבָּאָה
kein ez'keh l'shanah haba'ah
so may I merit next year
לֵישֵׁב בְּסֻכַּת
leisheiv b'sukat
to dwell in the sukkah of
עוֹרוֹ שֶׁל לִוְיָתָן
oro shel Liv'yatan.
the hide of the Leviathan.
לְשָׁנָה הַבָּאָה בִּירוּשָׁלָֽיִם
L'shanah haba'ah birushalayim!
Next year in Jerusalem!


Related Pages

Sukkot Sukkot
Learn about the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles.
Common Prayers and Blessings Common Prayers and Blessings
A list of common prayers and blessings that are available on this site for viewing online. Hebrew, transliteration, and English translation are available.
Prayers and Blessings Prayers and Blessings
Learn about the importance of prayer in Judaism and the form and content of prayers and blessings.
Jewish Liturgy Jewish Liturgy
Learn about the history and structure of the traditional Jewish prayer service.

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