Curriculum Checklist - 2 The Week of Sukkot Sukkot in the Jewish Calendar The Mitzvah of Sukkah The Four Species - Arba Minim The Mitzvah to rejoice on Sukkot The Libation of Water - Simchat Beit Hasho'eva Yom Tov Observance The Intermediary Days - Chol Hamoed Hoshana Rabba Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah The Intermediary Days - Chol Hamoed Laws and customs of the intermediary days Reading the Megillah of Kohelet, Ecclesiastes on Shabbat Hoshana Rabba The significance of the seven circuits, "hakaffot" on Hoshana Rabba: In Temple times 70 bull offerings were sacrificed on Sukkot in diminishing order - 13 on the first day and 7 on Hoshana Rabba, representing the fall of the 70 nations from power - Hoshana Rabba is the climax. On each day of Sukkot one circuit, "hakaffa" is made around the bimah with the lulav and etrog in hand and on Hoshana Rabba we make seven circuits as a memorial to the Sanctuary, in which the Cohanim encircled the altar with praise and joy once each day and seven times on Hoshana Rabba. Reminds us of the fall of Jericho which occurred after the city was circled once a day for six days and seven times on the seventh day. The beating of the willow branch in Temple Times The beating of 5 willow branches today - hidden meanings The symbol of the day - the aravah (willow), represents the mouth and lips, the organs of prayer Tikun Leil Hoshana Rabba - the custom to learn the book of Devarim and recite Psalms "Tehilim" all night Wearing festive clothes The custom to wear white The final "sealing of judgment" for the intermediate people (i.e. not the super-righteous or the wicked) The final prayer for leaving the Sukkah in Israel (said on Shmini Atzeret in the Diaspora) For more information click here. Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah observed as one day in Israel A separate festival, not part of Sukkot Parallels between Shmini Atzeret and Shavuot The Prayer for rain The insertion of the prayer "mashiv haruach umorid hageshem" during Mussaf The last portion of the Torah is read on Shmini Atzeret in Israel and on Simchat Torah in the Diaspora We celebrate with the Torah through dancing, singing and feasting Customs: All the Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark after the ma'ariv prayers. Some communities place a candle in the ark once the Torah scrolls have been removed so that it should not be left entirely empty and to symbolize the light of the Torah. Seven "hakaffot" (encirclings) of dancing with intense joy are made with them around the "bimah". This is repeated in the morning after the Shacharit service. Some communities read the Torah on the night of Simchat Torah which is not done on any other night. At Shacharit the last sidra in the Torah, "vezot habrachah" is read. The entire congregation is called to the Torah. The portion is repeated many times to suffice for the entire congregation. Listed below are the special Aliyot, unique to Simchat Torah: *  One goes up to the Torah for "kol hane'arim" (all the children) which is one reading before the conclusion of the Torah. *  An adult (over Bar Mitzvah) recites the blessings over the Torah with all the boys under Bar Mitzvah standing by his side and a tallit stretched over their heads. They recite the blessings word by word, in unison with the adult called. After the concluding blessing, all the adults say together "hamalach hago'el". *  The last aliya is given to the rabbi or to the most distinguished person in the community - the person who reads the concluding portion of the Torah is called the Chatan Torah, Bridegroom of the Torah. *  After him the Chatan Bereishit, Bridegroom of Bereishit is called to a reading from another scroll, which consists of the first passage in the Torah, from the beginning till "which God created and made". *  Maftir is read by the Chatan Maftir, Bridegroom of Maftir - a portion from Pinchas in a third Torah scroll. The Chatan Torah usually invites the community to a reception after the service. For more information click here.