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Sukkot & Simchat Torah

The Jewish holiday of SukkotTHE HOLIDAY OF SUKKOT is named after the booths or huts in which Jews are supposed to live during this week-long festival. The huts are supposed to remind us of the flimsy houses our ancestors lived in as they traveled through the desert heading towards Israel. Eating and living in a temporary structure -- called a sukkah -- forces you to think about the important things in life, separating you from material possessions.

Because Sukkot is also a harvest festival, it is considered an especially happy and festive time.

Simchat Torah (meaning, "Celebration of the Torah") is a one-day holiday that marks the completion of the annual cycle of the Torah reading. The final portion of Deuteronomy is read and then a new Torah reading cycle is immediately started with the Book of Genesis. Many synagogues unroll the Torah scroll completely so everyone can see the whole Torah.

Holiday descriptions provided by Kveller.com.

Sukkot & Simchat Torah Books 

Here is a list of Sukkot and Simchat Torah-related books sent out by PJ Library either this year or in the past.

  • Review All the Sukkot & Simchat Torah-Related Books

    • Sukkot & Simchat Torah Activities

    Below are activities to make Sukkot and Simchat Torah more meaningful and fun for the family:

  • "Sukkot: What It's All About"
    Ideas for celebrating the holiday and having fun with your kids for Kveller.com.

  • "Grover Welcomes Guests"
    Grover and his friends learn about inviting friends over to their sukkah.

  • "Starbursts, Medallions and More Sukkah Decorations"
    Sukkot craft preparation from CreativeJewishMom.com.

  • "How to Build a Sukkah for Under $40"
    Sukkah kits cost upwards of a few hundred dollars! According to Neohasid, a homespun sukkah is "way better for the earth, for the wallet, and for the spirit."

  • "Celebrating Sukkot Without a Sukkah"
    Tips from My Jewish Learning about creatively approaching the fall harvest holiday.

  • "Thanksgiving: A Harvest Festival with Roots in Sukkot"
    Did the Pilgrims draw from their knowledge of Sukkot? Learn more from InterfaithFamily.com.

  • "Simchat Torah Activities"
    How to celebrate the holiday and have fun with your kids from Kveller.com.

  • "Simple Flags for Simchat Torah"
    A quick, long-lasting and easy-to-make holiday flag from Joyful Jewish.

    • (Trans) Denominational Resources

    Check out the High Holiday resources provided by these Jewish organizations and movements:

  • Union for Reform Judaism
  • Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
  • United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
  • Orthodox Union
  • Chabad