We have this info up at the Sukkot2016 page, but as this great holiday season reaches its final climax, here’s the last few days of holiday events – especially Simchat Torah on Monday Night:
SUNDAY NIGHT 10/23 LAST NIGHT IN THE SUKKAH
It’s technically no longer Sukkot, but Chabad enjoys one last lingering night in the Sukkah on Shmini Atzeret. Prayers 7pm include a quick Hakafot in solidarity with Israel (its Simchat Torah for them that night) followed by dinner in the Sukkah. We’re serving roast beef with wild rice and roasted red potatoes, broccolli quiche and a hot soup – cuz it will be a chilly night. Dress in layers.
MONDAY 10/24 SHMINI ATZERET DAY
Special prayers in the Musaf, we start 9:30am, Lunch in the Sukkah starts at 12. Revolving door, come and go as you can. For lunch we have maple and soy salmon with mashed potatoes and mashed sweet potatoes, quinoa salad and other stuff.
MONDAY NIGHT 10/24 THE BIG PARTY – SIMCHAT TORAH!!!!
Don’t miss this one night of tremendous joyous energy, dancing with the Torah on Simchat Torah. We start around 8pm and try to keep the celebration going with songs and dances and good vibes until midnight! There’s a huge food buffet and a special collectible souvenir. Egg rolls, franks n’ blanks, sesame chicken, rice, lo-mein, matzah-ball soup, mocktails and more…
A few things to know about Simchat Torah:
We hope to be dancing from 8pm to Midnight. Come anytime, and for any length of time. Four hours, 15 minutes, whatever.
Dancing (even a bit) on Simchat Torah is an important energizing springboard for the year ahead. Get off the ground!
There are special Shabbos House traditions, Simchat Torah is a once-a-year type of event. Memories to last!
No prerequisites. You don’t need to know the songs, the Hebrew, no need to be religious or observant. Just come and celebrate!
You don’t need to know how to dance. Most of us don’t. No need to RSVP.
And the souvenir has that dancing Torah Rabbi on it each year, but the theme changes. Start or add to your collection.
TUES 10/25 – SIMCHAT TORAH DAY, THE AFTER-PARTY
This is our longest service of the year, rivaling Yom Kippur! But we serve food and nibbles throughout and its much more joyous and more interactive. We start around 9:30am and by the time we get through Hakafot, Aliyot, completing the Torah and starting anew, the special Musaf led by a dedicated freshmen, last of the long holiday season — the sit down portion of lunch starts around 2 or 2:30pm. Food-wise, we’ll have deli sandwiches, bourekas, and lots of delicious holiday food leftovers.
And that’s it.
We take down the Sukkah on Wednesday 10/26…
Click here tishreicard2016 for handy printable PDF calendar of October 2016 Jewish Holidays at UAlbany, Rosh Hashanah thru Simchat Torah!