In our backyards, on our porches, and outside our synagogues, Jews mark the fall harvest by building sturdy—yet fragile—structures out of natural materials, symbolizing both human vulnerability and God’s protection. No harvest holiday is complete without its fertility symbols, and Sukkot—when we wave the lulav and etrog—is no exception.
Welcome Jewish women from throughout the ages into your sukkah as ushpizot, honored guests. Enjoy the crisp autumn air as you decorate your sukkah, then spend time with friends and family, celebrating your blessings and committing to sharing your bounty with others.
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Overview of Sukkot | Article
By Rabbi Susan P. Fendrick
The customs and ceremonies of the festival
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Sukkah Blessings | Complete Ceremony
By Rachel Barenblat
Blessings to recite for building the sukkah and dwelling in it
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The Woman's Prayer (La Orasion de la Mujer) | Prayer
Melody by Flory Jagoda, recorded by Susan Gaeta
Traditional Sephardic blessing before lighting candles
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Building a Family Sukkah | Article
By Randi Rose
A one-woman project using readily available materials and strategic craft-store and end-of-December purchases
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Sukkah-Construction Diagram | Document
By Randi Rose
Illustration for a do-it-yourself family sukkah
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Welcoming Ushpizot with Ushpizin | Ritual Component
From Kolot
Biblical heroines are invited to the sukkah, along with the traditional honored male "guests"
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Welcoming Women into the Sukkah | Ritual Component
Ushpizot, inviting biblical prophetesses into the sukkah, is a new ritual based in tradition. Ma'yan has designed a beautiful poster to enhance your sukkah.
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Ushpizot Guide | Complete Ceremony
A guide to creating ushpizot programs and the artist's description of the wall chart
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Ushpizot | Complete Ceremony
By Rabbis Margot Stein and Yael Ridberg
An invitation to our biblical mothers and other Jewish women to join us in the sukkah
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Ushpizin | Complete Ceremony
By Reba Connell
An invitation to our biblical mothers and other Jewish women to join us in the sukkah
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Ushpizata: Egalitarian Seder Ushpizin | Complete Ceremony
By Rabbi David Seidenberg
A seder based on Sephardic tradition and form for welcoming the spiritual matriarchs and patriarchs to the sukkah
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Tivu: A Song of Welcome | Song
Rabbi Geela Rayzel Raphael
A lively song that welcomes each ancestral guest to the sukkah by name
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The Tradition of the Empty Chair | Ritual Component
From Project Chana
Some designate an empty chair to which they metaphorically invite battered women.
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Sukkah Prayer for Abused Women | Prayer
From Shalom Bayit, San Francisco
The organization urges affixing a purple ribbon to the sukkah and reciting this prayer for those who have experienced abuse or who do not enjoy peace and safety in their own homes.
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This Harvest Hut | Complete Ceremony
By Michelle Landsberg
A responsive reading for women in the sukkah
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Sukkot Food Traditions | Article
By Ruth Heiges
Any dish containing myriad ingredients within symbolizes abundance for the coming year.
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Essence of Tishrei | Article
A summary of facts, characters, and holidays pertaining to the month of Tishrei
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