Celebration at JCOM

Sukkot at JCOM


The days of repentance and atonement – Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and its intervening days – are followed by festival days filled with rejoicing and praise.  On the 15th day of the month of Tishrei, the festival begins and lasts eight days as stated in the Torah/Bible.  The first seven days are the Festival of Sukkot.  The eighth day is called Hoshana Raba.  During this time, Jews build a sukkah/temporary booth to acknowledge and remember that through G-d’s help, the Hebrew’s left slavery in Egypt and dwelt in temporary booths for 40 years before being allowed into the land of Israel.  In the sukkah, Jews eat their meals, dance, spend quality family time together, and even sleep.  The sukkah is also a dwelling for the Shechinah/Divine Presence. 

The congregation’s sukkah will remain open for those wishing to eat their meals inside, study, and pray throughout the holiday.

Shmini Atzeret is a separate festival from Sukkot, otherwise known as the Eighth Day of Assembly, when Jews pray for rain.  In Israel, Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are two festivals on the same day, but outside of Israel, the festivals are observed on separate days, one after the other.  Simchat Torah is reserved for rejoicing over the eternal cycle of the Torah.  On this day, the last portion of the Torah is read, the scroll is rewound back to the beginning where the first portion is read to restart the cycle again.  It takes an entire year to read all the portions of the Torah on their designated days.  Traditionally, a feast is held and Jews rejoice, dance, sing, and praise G-d in honor of the Torah. 

The Jewish Congregation of Maui’s schedule of services are as follows:

  •    September 22  – 6:00pm Sukkot evening Service.

  •    September 23 – 9:30am Sukkot morning Service.

  •   September 24 - 9:30am Sukkot morning Service; 6:00pm Shabbat Service.

  •    September 29  – 6:00pm Shemini Atzeret evening service.
  •     September 30  – 9:30am Shemini Atzeret morning service
  •     September 30 – 6:00 p.m. Simchat Torah evening service with dancing.
  •     October 1 – 9:30 a.m. Simchat Torah morning service with dancing.  Everyone will be

       called to the Torah including children!