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High Holiday Prayer Guide

Erev Sukkos

  • Candle lighting should take place 18 minutes before sundown at 6:13pm. The beracha should conclude להדליק נר של שבת ושל יום טוב.

First Day of Sukkos

Friday Night

  • An abridged קבלת שבת is recited that begins with Mizmor Shir L’Yom HaShabbos. BaMeh Madlikin should also be omitted.
  • Both ושמרו and וידבר are recited before the Amidah.
  • Ma’ariv Amidah for Yom Tov with proper insertions for Shabbos and Sukkos.
  • Vayechulu is recited after the Amidah (omitting the beracha “Magen Avos”) followed by Aleinu and L’Dovid.
  • Kiddush should not take place before nightfall (7:15pm).
  • Kiddush for Yom Tov with proper Shabbos and Sukkos insertions. Kiddush begins with יום הששי. After מקדש השבת וישראל והזמנים, Leishev BaSukkah is recited followed by Shehechiyanu.
  • In the event of rain:
    • If possible, one should wait an hour or two for the rain to stop in order recite a complete Kiddush.
    • If the rain does not stop, one recites Kiddush without Leishev and then eats a k’zayis of bread in the sukkah.
    • The rest of the meal continues in the house.
    • If one has an opportunity to eat in the sukkah after the rain stops, even if it is after Birkas HaMazon, one should return to the sukkah, recite Leishev BaSukkah and eat a k’beitzah of bread. 
  • Birkas HaMazon should include the insertions for Shabbos and Sukkos.
  • If Ma’ariv was recited before nightfall (7:15pm), Kerias Sh’ma should be repeated after nightfall.

 

Daytime

  • Birchos Kerias Sh’ma for Shabbos (הכל יודוך).
  • Shacharis Amidah for Yom Tov with the proper insertions for Shabbos and Sukkos.
  • The lulav and esrog are not taken on Shabbos.
  • Full Hallel is recited.
  • The Torah reading for the first day is Vayikra 22:26-23:44, the maftir is Bamidbar 29:12-16 and the haftarah is from Zechariah 14:1-21.
  • Mussaf Amidah for Yom Tov with proper insertions for Shabbos and Sukkos.
  • Hoshanos can be recited without a minyan. One remains in place when reciting Hoshanos on Shabbos (and when reciting without a minyan). On the first day, אום נצורה is recited.  
  • Mincha Amidah for Yom Tov with the proper insertions for Shabbos and Sukkos. Mincha should be recited before shekiyah (sunset) which is at 6:29pm.
  • Preparations for the second day may not begin until nightfall (7:13pm).

 

 

 

Second Day of Sukkos

Saturday Night

  • Candle lighting must be performed after nightfall.7:14pm
  • Ma’ariv should be recited after nightfall.
  • Ma’ariv for Yom Tov with insertions for Sukkos includes ותודיענו.
  • Kiddush for Yom Tov includes Meorei Ha’Eish, Havdalah, Shehechiyanu and Leishev BaSukkah (יקנהז"ס).
  • In the event of rain:
    • It is preferable to wait a short amount of time for the rain to stop.
    • There is no requirement to recite kiddush in the sukkah in the rain. One can start the meal indoors.
    • At some point during the meal, if the rain has not stopped, one should eat a k’zayis of bread in the sukkah without reciting Leishev BaSukkah.
    • If the rain stops, one should go out to the sukkah, recite Leishev baSukkah and eat a k’beitzah of bread.
  • Birkas HaMazon should include the insertions for Sukkos.

Daytime

  • Birchos Kerias Sh’ma for weekday (המאיר לארץ).
  • Shacharis Amidah for Yom Tov with proper insertions for Sukkos.
  • The four species are taken before Hallel. Two berachos are recited: Al Netilas Lulav and Shehechiyanu.
  • Instructions for shaking lulav (applies throughout Sukkos):
    • Before reciting the beracha, the esrog is held upside down in the left hand. The lulav, hadasim and aravos are held in the right hand. The beracha (or berachos) is recited and then the esrog is turned to the upright position. One then shakes the lulav.
    • Ashkenazi practice for shaking the lulav is as follows: one faces east and moves the four species back and forth three times, preferably while shaking the leaves. One then repeats this (in a clockwise direction) shaking three times towards the south, west, north, up and down.
    • An individual reciting Hallel at home shakes the lulav at (first) Hodu one time, two times at אנא ה' and then two times at the ending Hodu.
  • Full Hallel is recited.
  • The Torah reading for the second day is Vayikra 22:26-23:44, the maftir is Bamidbar 29:12-16 and the haftarah is from Melachim I 8:2-8:21.
  • Mussaf Amidah for Yom Tov with proper insertions for Sukkos.
  • Hoshanos can be recited without a minyan. One remains in place when reciting Hoshanos without a minyan. On the second day, למען אמיתך is recited. 
  • Mincha Amidah for Yom Tov with proper insertions for Sukkos.

Motzaei Yom Tov

  • Yom Tov concludes at nightfall 7:12pm.
  • Weekday Amidah for Ma’ariv should be recited including Atah Chonantanu and Ya’aleh V’Yavo.
  • Havdalah consists of two berachos: HaGafen and HaMavdil (no besamim or eish). It should be recited in the sukkah. If one isn’t planning on eating in the sukkah after Havdalah, Leishev BaSukkah should not be recited.

Chol HaMoed

  • Shacharis, Mincha and Ma’ariv follow weekday services while including Ya’aleh V’Yavo.
  • Lamenatzeach and Tachanun are not recited on Chol HaMoed.
  • The four species are taken before Hallel.
  • Full Hallel is recited every day of Sukkos after Shacharis.
  • The Torah Reading for Chol HaMoed is as follows:
    • Monday: Bamidbar 29:17-25
    • Tuesday: Bamidbar 29:20-28
    • Wednesday: Bamidbar 29:23-31
    • Thursday: Bamidbar 29:26-34
  • Yom Tov Mussaf is recited each day with the proper insertions for the particular day of Chol HaMoed.
  • Hoshanos can be recited without a minyan. One remains in place when reciting Hoshanos without a minyan. The following paragraphs are recited:
    • Monday: אערוך שועי
    • Tuesday: אבן שתיה
    • Wednesday: ק-ל למושעות
    • Thursday: אדון המושיע

Hoshana Rabbah

Morning Services

  • Pesukei D’Zimra includes sections from Shabbos/Yom Tov. After מזמור לתודה, turn to Shabbos/Yom Tov Pesukei D’Zimra and recite from למנצח מזמור לדוד through ה' מלך גאות לבש. Then return to weekday Pesukei D’Zimra and continue with יהי כבוד.
  • Shir Hama’alos is recited after Yishtabach.
  • Weekday Amidah for Shacharis including Ya’aleh V’Yavo.
  • The four species are taken before Hallel.
  • Full Hallel is recited.
  • Torah reading for Hoshana Rabbah is Bamidbar 29:26-34.
  • Yom Tov Mussaf with the proper insertions for Hoshana Rabbah.
  • Hoshanos can be recited without a minyan. One remains in place when reciting Hoshanos without a minyan. At the end of the Hoshanos, one puts down the four species and takes the aravos bundle and beats them on the ground five times.
  • Davening concludes with אין כא-לקינו, עלינו, שיר של יום, לדוד, אדון עולם.

Erev Yom Tov

  • Candle lighting should take place 18 minutes before sundown at 6:00pm. The beracha should conclude להדליק נר של שבת ושל יום טוב.

 

 

 

 

Shemini Atzeres

Friday Night

  • An abridged קבלת שבת is recited that begins with Mizmor Shir L’Yom HaShabbos. BaMeh Madlikin should also be omitted.
  • Both ושמרו and וידבר are recited before the Amidah.
  • Ma’ariv Amidah for Yom Tov with proper insertions for Shabbos and Shemini Atzeres.
  • Vayechulu is recited after the Amidah (omitting the beracha “Magen Avos”) followed by Aleinu and L’Dovid.
  • In the Diaspora, the Shemini Atzeres meals take place in the Sukkah. One does not recite Leishev BaSukkah on Shemini Atzeres.
  • It is preferable to wait until nightfall (7:02pm) to begin Kiddush.
  • Kiddush for Yom Tov with proper Shabbos and Shemini Atzeres insertions. Kiddush begins with יום הששי. After מקדש השבת וישראל והזמנים, Shehechiyanu is recited.
  • In the event of rain, one may eat indoors. There is no special requirement to recite Kiddush or eat bread in the sukkah when it is raining.
  • Birkas HaMazon should include the insertions for Shabbos and Shemini Atzeres.

Daytime

  • Birchos Kerias Sh’ma for Shabbos (הכל יודוך).
  • Shacharis Amidah for Yom Tov with the proper insertions for Shabbos and Shemini Atzeres.
  • Full Hallel is recited.
  • The Torah reading for Shemini Atzeres is Devarim 14:22-16:17, the maftir is Bamidbar 29:35-30:1 and the haftarah is from Melachim I 8:54–9:1.
  • Yizkor can be recited without a minyan. One should make sure to pledge money to tzedakah before reciting Yizkor.
  • At Mussaf of Shemini Atzeres we begin reciting משיב הרוח ומוריד הגשם. While not required, an individual davening at home may recite Tefillas Geshem.
  • Mussaf Amidah for Yom Tov with proper insertions for Shabbos and Shemini Atzeres.
  • Mincha Amidah for Yom Tov with the proper insertions for Shabbos and Shemini Atzeres. Mincha should be recited before shekiyah (sunset) which is at 6:16pm.
  • Preparations for the second day may not begin until nightfall (7:00pm).

Simchas Torah (Second Day of Shemini Atzeres)

Saturday Night

  • Candle lighting must be performed after nightfall.7:00pm
  • Ma’ariv should be recited after nightfall.
  • Ma’ariv for Yom Tov with insertions for Shemini Atzeres includes ותודיענו.
  • We do not eat in the Sukkah on Simchas Torah.
  • Kiddush for Yom Tov includes Meorei Ha’Eish, Havdalah and Shehechiyanu (יקנה"ז).
  • Birkas HaMazon should include the insertions for Shemini Atzeres.

Daytime

  • Birchos Kerias Sh’ma for weekday (המאיר לארץ).
  • Shacharis Amidah for Yom Tov with proper insertions for Shemini Atzeres.
  • Full Hallel is recited.
  • On Simchas Torah, we complete the Torah by reading V’Zos HaBeracha. We then begin the new cycle with Bereishis 1:1-2:3, the maftir is Bamidbar 29:35-30:1 and the haftarah is Yehoshua 1:1-1:18.
  • Mussaf Amidah for Yom Tov with proper insertions for Shemini Atzeres.
  • Mincha Amidah for Yom Tov with proper insertions for Shemini Atzeres.

Motzaei Yom Tov

  • Yom Tov concludes at nightfall 6:59pm.
  • Weekday Amidah for Ma’ariv including Atah Chonantanu.
  • Havdalah consists of two berachos: HaGafen and HaMavdil (no besamim or eish).

 

 

Mon, March 18 2024 8 Adar II 5784