Fall Jewish Holidays Continue at Temple Sinai of Glendale

Temple Sinai of Glendale will celebrate Sukkot, the Festival of the Tabernacles, on Friday, Oct. 6.

Sukkot, also known as the Jewish Thanksgiving, is a harvest holiday that calls us to be grateful for God’s bounty. The holiday also commemorates the journey the first Jews made through the desert after their liberation from Egypt, during which time they lived in temporary booths or huts.

To celebrate, the congregation will construct a sukkah (hut) in front of the Temple. Families will gather to make decorations and hang them in the sukkah, beginning at 5 p.m., followed by a religious service filled with songs and stories, and a potluck dinner. This year Sukkot falls on a Friday night, therefore the evening will also include the Temple’s weekly Shabbat (Sabbath) service.

On Friday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m., the Temple, which is located at 1212 N. Pacific Ave., celebrates Simchat Torah, the festival of rejoicing with the parchment scroll called Torah. Torah is the Hebrew name for the first five books of the Bible, Genesis through Deuteronomy.

The congregation will literally dance with the Torah, and the adults will unroll the scroll and encircle their children, symbolically surrounding them with the Torah’s wisdom. Again, as Simchat Torah falls on a Friday night this year, Shabbat prayers and songs will be included in the service.

All are welcome at both celebrations and there is no charge or reservations necessary. Call Temple Sinai of Glendale for more information at 246-8101 or to make a contribution to the Sukkot Potluck.