Fall Festivals

Sukkot Events

Join Temple Israel for Sukkot!

Help us build our sukkahs at Strawbery Banke and Temple Israel

Please join us to help build our sukkahs! The Strawbery Banke and TIP sukkah will be set up and decorated on Sunday, October 13.

<!–October 2, 9:00 am, Temple Israel, Register
October 9, 9:00 am, Strawbery Banke, Register
First we build, then we will decorate! Bring natural materials (flowers, branches, gourds, etc) to beautify our sukkah next to Shapiro House at Strawbery Banke.–>

Erev Sukkot Service and Potluck at Strawbery Banke
Wednesday, October 16 6:00pm

Welcome the festival in a shared event with Havurah Piscataqua and TIP. Bring a dairy/pareve dish to share and a chair. We will join voices in song and prayers from our tables as we welcome Shabbat and Sukkot.

Sukkot Yom Tov Service at Temple Israel
Thursday, October 17, 10 am, led by Raba Kaya Stern-Kaufman

Outdoor Kabbalat Shabbat Service at Strawbery Banke
Friday, October 18, 6:00 pm, led by Rabba Kaya Stern-Kaufman and rabbinic intern Reb Beni Summers

Hoagies in the Hut!
Sunday, October 20, 12:30 pm

Celebrate the Feast of Booths with delicious sandwiches! This family-friendly event takes place at the Temple Israel sukkah after the morning offsite Mitzvah Day program. Learn more and register.

Hoshana Rabbah

Hoshana Rabba Service with potluck lunch
Wednesday, October 23, 10am

Celebrate the final day of Sukkot with an outdoor service at a private sukkah, including waving of lulav and etrog. Address and directions will be provided in the registration confirmation email. Please bring a dairy / pareve / vegetarian dish to share! Register.

Visit the Sukkah at TIP or Strawbery Banke!

During the week of Sukkot (Wednesday, October 16, through Wednesday, October 23, before sunset), fulfill the mitzvah “to dwell” in the sukkah. Bring a snack, have a seat and recite this blessing:

Barukh Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha-olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu lei’sheiv ba-sukkah. 
Blessed is Adonai our G-d who sanctifies us with mitzvot and with this mitzvah to sit in the sukkah.

• During Sukkot the TIP playground gates will be unlocked between 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm. (The Early Learning Center is in session weekdays until 1:00 pm.)
• Folding chairs will be available in the sukkah.
• Please do not leave any trash in the playground or in the sukkah.
• Playground equipment is reserved for use by children ages 5 and younger.
• No reservation is required; please be mindful about sharing the space with others.
• To visit the Strawbery Banke sukkah before 5pm, enter through the main admissions gate and let the staff know you are visiting the sukkah. After 5pm you may enter through side gates.

Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah events
Thursday, October 24

Shemini Atzeret Service with Yikzkor
Thursday, October 24, 10am
Sanctuary service and Zoom

Simchat Torah Celebration with Klezmer Band, Pizza, and Ice Cream
Thursday, October 24, 6:00-9:30pm
Sanctuary (with Zoom) and Levenson Social Hall

Complete our yearly cycle of Torah reading and begin a new cycle with a return to Genesis 1:1. Join in the joy of the moment as we dance with our Torahs to tunes by our live band. Prior to the service, pizza will be available at 5:30 pm for those who sign up, and enjoy ice cream and all the fixings in the Social Hall following the service, with more live music.