Sukkot Torah Readings

*For a PDF version of All the Torah Portions Schedule, click here to download! For more on Metaphysics of Sukkoth and The Mystery of the Lulav

For the Holiday of Sukkot

The Festival of Sukkot (Booths, Huts)| JAH Feast of Tabernacles

The Torah Reading Cycle is suspended for the holiday week of Sukkot (in the KJV Bible as "Succoth") as well as for Shemini Atzeret (sometimes referred to as the eighth day of Sukkot). CH"M means Chol haMo'ed, an interim day.

  • Sukkot, Hoshana Rabba, and Shemini Atzeret Torah readings are from Leviticus 22-23, Numbers 29, and Deuteronomy 14-16. These readings detail the laws of the mo'edim or "appointed times" on the Jewish calendar and include the mitzvot regarding the festival of Sukkot.
  • On Simchat Torah ("Celebration of the Torah") we conclude, and begin anew, the annual Torah-reading cycle. First we read the Torah section of V'zot Haberakhah, and then we read the first chapter of Genesis (the beginning of next Shabbat's Torah reading).

Yom Tov

Torah Haftarah Brit Chadashah
Erev Sukkot
October 2, 2020
It is customary to prepare the "four species" in the sukkah in the afternoon. The holiday begins with candle lighting just before sundown, followed by the Shehecheyanu. Kiddush and Sukkah blessings are recited in the Sukkah.
Sukkot 1
October 3, 2020
Lev. 22:26-23:44;
Num. 29:12-29:16
Zech. 14:1-21; John 1:10-14;
Rev. 7:1-10; 21:1-4
Sukkot 2
October 4, 2020
Lev. 22:26-23:44;
Num. 29:12-29:16
1 Kings 8:2-21 John 1:10-14;
Rev. 7:1-10; 21:1-4
Sukkot 3 (CH"M 1)
October 5, 2020
Exod. 33:12-34:26;
Num. 29:17-22
Ezek. 38:18-39:16 James
Sukkot 4 (CH"M 2)
October 6, 2020
Num. 29:20-25

John 7-8

Sukkot 5 (CH"M 3)
October 7, 2020
Num. 29:23-28

John 7-8

Sukkot 6 (CH"M 4)
October 8, 2020
Shabbat
Exod. 33:12-34:26;
Num. 29:26-31
Devarim (selectiions)
Ezek. 38:18-39:16
Ecclesiastes
Psalms (selections)

John 7-8

Sukkot 7
Hoshana Rabba
October 9, 2020
Num. 29:26-34
(hakafot)

John 7-8

Sukkot 8
Shemini Atzeret
October 10, 2020
Deut. 14:22-16:17; Num. 29:35-30:1 1 Kings 8:54-8:66 Matt. 17:1-9;
Mark 12:28-33
Simchat Torah
October 11, 2020
Deut. 33:1-34:12; Genesis 1:1-2:3
Vzot-Haberakhah
Josh. 1:1-18 Rev. 22:1-21
Shabbat Bereishit
October 17, 2020
Genesis 1:1-6:8
Parashat Bereishit
Isa. 42:5-43:11 John 1:1-14; Col. 1:15-17; Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 1:1-3; Rom. 11:36; Rev. 4:11; 22:13

Additional Notes:

    • The Sukkot, Hoshana Rabba, and Shemini Atzeret Torah readings are from Leviticus 22-23, Numbers 29, and Deuteronomy 14-16. These readings detail the laws of the mo'adim or "appointed times" on the Jewish calendar and include the commandments regarding the festival of Sukkot.
  • On Simchat Torah ("Celebration of the Torah") we conclude, and begin anew, the annual Torah-reading cycle. First we read the Torah section of Vezot Haberakhah, and then we read the first chapter of Genesis (i.e., the beginning of the following Shabbat's Torah reading).

The Circle of Torah Readings...

Our Torah reading for this week is a bit complicated. In addition to the passages we read for the holiday of Sukkot, we will also read the Book of Ecclesiastes (i.e., Kohelet) for the Sabbath of Sukkot. We will also read both the very last portion of the Torah (i.e., V'zot HaBerakhah: Deut. 33:1-34:12) as well as the very first chapter of the Torah (i.e., Gen. 1:1-2:3) for the holiday of "Simchat Torah" (which immediately follows Shemini Atzeret). Finally, on the Sabbath that follows the celebration of Simchat Torah, we will read the entire portion of Bereshit (i.e., Gen. 1:1-6:8). The upshot is that during this season of the year we will read the end of the Torah scroll and then "rewind" it to the beginning...

Every year we read the Torah from beginning to end... We do this every year because Talmud Torah - the study of Torah - is an ongoing venture in the life of a Jew.  In this connection, it is interesting to note that the very first letter of the Torah is the Bet (בּ) in the word bereshit (בְּרֵאשִׁית), and the very last letter of the Torah is the Lamed (ל) in the word Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל). Putting these letters together we get the word lev (לֵב), "heart," (note the similarity to the English word "love") suggesting that the entire Torah - from the first letter to the last - reveals the heart and love of God for us... Moreover, the first letter of Scripture is a Bet (בּ), as explained above, and the last letter is a Nun (ן) in the word "Amen" (אָמֵן), so the whole Bible - from beginning to end - reveals the Person of God the Son (בֶּן) for us...

Note: On Shabbat Chol Hamoed we read a different reading (from the Book of Exodus) and the maftir consists of what would be the fourth aliyah for that day, as per the list above.

Happy Sukkot (Tabernacles)! Simchat Torah Reading

Happy Sukkot (Tabernacles)! Simchat Torah Reading

Happy Sukkot (Tabernacles)! Simchat Torah Reading

Happy Sukkot (Tabernacles)! Simchat Torah Reading