Jewish Big Book: Sukkot

Sukkot Idie Benjamin & Dale Sides Cooperman

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What could this be?

It has walls, but it is not a real house.

It has a roof made of branches.

Apples, pears, and bananas are hanging from the ceiling.

Vegetables, too!

What a beautiful house!

Jewish people build a sukkah for the holiday of Sukkot.

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At night, we can see the stars and the moon. What shape is the moon?

If it rains, we will get wet.

We celebrate sitting in the sukkah by saying this special blessing.

      .      Barukh Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam Asher Kidshanu b’Mitzvotav v’Tzivanu lei-Shev b’Sukkah.

Praised are You, Adonai, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who made us Holy with the mitzvot, and made it a mitzvah for us to dwell in the Sukkah.

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This is a luluv.

Shake it!

Listen to the rustling sound it makes.

This is an etrog.

What does it smell like?

God gives us beautiful things and we thank God for them by saying this special blessing.

      .       Barukh Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam Asher Kidshanu b’Mitzvotav v’Tzivanu al n’tilat lulav.

Praised are You, Adonai, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Cosmos Who made us Holy with the mitzvot and made it a mitzvah for us to shake the lulav.

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Inside, there is a table and chairs. Come and eat with us.

First, say the blessings and say thank you to God. What is your favorite fruit or vegetable to eat?

Is it hanging in the sukkah?

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When the Jews left Egypt, they traveled through the desert for a long time to get to Israel.

While traveling in the desert, they lived in sukkot.

When you travel where do you sleep?

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Long ago, farmers in Israel built sukkot at harvest time.

All day they would work to pick their fruits and vegetables.

At night, they would sleep in their sukkot.

How many apples can you find in this tree?

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On Sukkot, we think about how God keeps us safe everywhere— in our strong houses and even in our sukkah with its open roof.

What things make you feel safe?

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See how happy we are in our sukkah!

Thank you, God. Let’s eat.

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ISBN 13: 978-1-934527-56-6 Copyright © 2011 Torah Aura Productions. All rights reserved.

Illustrations copyright © 2011 Christine Tripp. All rights reserved.

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