Sukkot Blessings

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On the first two nights, kiddush, the blessing for dwelling in the sukkah, and shehecheyanu should be recited over a cup of wine in the sukkah, if possible. Words in parentheses are read only on Shabbat.

If it is not possible to recite these blessings in the sukkah, omit the blessing for dwelling in the sukkah.

If wine or grape juice is not used, substitute she-ha-kol niyeh bidvaro (by whose will all things come to be) for borei p’riy ha-gafen (who creates the fruit of the vine) in the kiddush.

 

Kiddush for Sukkot
On Friday nights, insert the first paragraph of Shabbat kiddush here, up to the first Barukh atah... On all other nights, skip words in [brackets].

Barukh atah Adonai, Elohaynu, melekh ha-olam
 Blessed are you, Lord, our G-d, king of the universe

borei p’riy ha-gafen. (Amein)
 who creates the fruit of the vine. (Amen)

Barukh atah Adonai, Elohaynu, melekh ha-olam
 Blessed are you, Lord, our G-d, king of the universe

asher bachar banu mee-kol am, v'rom'manu mee-kol lashon
 who has chosen us from among all people, and exalted us above every tongue

v'kee'd'shanu b'meetzvotav, va-teeten lanu, Adonai Elohaynu,
and sanctified us with His commandments, and you gave us, Lord our G-d,

b'ahavah [shabatot lee-m'nuchah u'] mo'adeem l'seemchah,
with love [Sabbaths for rest, and] appointed festivals for gladness,

chageem u-z'maneem l'sason, et yom [ha-shabbat hazeh v'et yom]
festivals and times for joy, this day of [Sabbath and this day of]

chag ha-Sukkot hazeh, z'man seemchateinu
 the festival of Sukkot, the time of our gladness

[b'ahava] meekra kodesh, zeicher leetzeeyat meetz'rayeem
 [with love] a holy convocation, a memorial of the exodus from Egypt

Kiy vanu vacharta v’otanu qidashta mikol ha’amiym
 Indeed, You have chosen us and made us holy among all peoples

[v’shabat] u-mo'aday qadsh’kha [b’ahavah u’v’ratzon]
 and [the Sabbath and] your holy festivals [in love and favor]

b'simchah u-v'sason hin’chal’tanu
 in gladness and in joy you have given us for an inheritance

Barukh atah Adonai, m’qadesh [ha-shabat v'] Yisra'el v'ha-z'manim. (Amein)
 Blessed are You, who sanctifies [the shabbat and] Israel and the seasons. (Amen)

Blessing for Dwelling in the Sukkah
This blessing should be recited at any time you are fulfilling the mitzvah of dwelling in the sukkah, for example, before you eat a meal in the sukkah.

Barukh atah Adonai, Elohaynu, melekh ha-olam
 Blessed are you, Lord, our G-d, king of the universe

asher keed'shanu b'meetzvotav v'tzeevanu
 who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us

leisheiv ba-sukkah (Amein)
 to dwell in the sukkah (Amen)

Shehecheyanu (first night only)

Barukh atah Adonai, Elohaynu, melekh ha-olam
 Blessed are you, Lord, our G-d, king of the universe

she-hecheeyanu v'keey'manu v'heegeeyanu la-z'man ha-zeh (Amein)
 who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season. (Amen)

The following blessing is recited when fulfilling the commandment to "rejoice before the Lord" by waving the arba minim. The lulav, hadas and arava are taken in the right hand and the etrog is taken in the left, with the stem up. They are held together and the following blessing is recited.

Blessing over the Arba Minim

Barukh atah Adonai, Elohaynu, melekh ha-olam
 Blessed are you, Lord, our G-d, king of the universe

asher keed'shanu b'meetzvotav v'tzeevanu al n'tilat lulav
 who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the taking of the lulav. (Amen)

After reciting the above blessing, turn the etrog upside down (stem down) hold the four species together, and wave them to the east, south, west, north, up and down, symbolizing that G-d is everywhere.

The following prayer is recited before leaving the sukkah for the last time during the holiday season.
Farewell to the Sukkah

Y'hee ratzon mee-l'fanekha, Adonai Elohaynu v'elohey avoteynu
 May it be Your will, Lord our G-d and G-d of our ancestors

k'sheim she-keeyam'tee v'yashavtee ba-sukkah zu
 that just as I have fulfilled and dwelled in this sukkah

kein ezkeh l'shanah ha-ba'ah leysheiv b'sukkat oro shel leev'yatan
 so may I merit in the coming year to dwell in the sukkah of the skin of Leviathan

L'shanah ha-ba'ah beeyrushalayeem
 Next year in Jerusalem!