Sukkot & Simchat Torah
Sukkot 2025
Sukkot gives us a brilliant opportunity as a community to get together outdoors. The Sukkah we build together creates a beautiful space for our community, and to appreciate the harvest of the world. As last year we are delighted that Sukkot is taking place in our new EHRS courtyard which has been such a joy to use this year. Please bring fruit, vegetables, flowers & greenery from Friday 3 October (8:30-17:30) and then onwards until Monday 6 October late afternoon.
Sunday 5 October
Sukkah Building and Unveiling of the EHRS Memorial Sculpture to Commemorate October 7th, 10:00-12:30
Our Sukkah this year is going to be on the theme of Sukkat Shalom and we will be asking members of EHRS to send us their photos or pictures of people and places that make them feel peaceful so that they can be the Ushpizin (guests) that we welcome into our special festival structure. Come anytime during the morning and join us to help build the Sukkah itself (please bring some vegetation or fruit/veg to hang in the Sukkah). Fun for all ages.
At 12:15 we will all come together to unveil the memorial sculpture, created by Josette Perloff, which will be a permanent memorial to those who were murdered and taken hostage in Israel on October 7th 2023. It will be placed in the EHRS Memorial Garden.
Erev Sukkot – Monday 6 October
Pizza in the Hut & Sukkah decorating, 16:30-18:30
Come to all or part of the event and join our EHRS Sukkah decorating before our evening service. We will add the finishing touches to our Sukkah and add to the experience with decorations. Fueled by Pizza!
Erev Sukkot Service, 18:30-19:30
Finishing with Kiddush in the Sukkah.
Sukkot – Tuesday 7 October
Sukkot Morning Service, 10:30-12:30
Led by EHRS Emeritus Rabbi Danny Smith and our Clergy. Finishing with Kiddush in the Sukkah.
Family Sukkot Club, 11:00-12:30
All the family are warmly invited to shake the Lulav, experience the Sukkah, and the joy of the festival of Sukkot. Finishing with Kiddush in the Sukkah. 4-10 year-olds led by our clergy. 0-3 Baby Club led by Sarah Koster.
Cornerstone: EHRS’s Class in Essential Judaism, 20:00-21:30
Learn about Sukkot and Simchat Torah with Rabbi Debbie, including how we continue our festivals when tragedies occurred on them. Please email rabbi.debbie@ehrs.uk if you’d like to join as we have resources we send out beforehand. In person and on Zoom.
Wednesday 8 October
Fruits of the World, Cheese & Wine Tasting, 20:00-21:00
Sample fruits you may never have tasted, & wines and cheeses with a history and special provenance with Rabbi Mark, as part of our joyous harvest celebration of Sukkot.
Thursday 9 October
Bring your Baby to the Sukkah, 12:00
After Sing & Sensory, come on down to the Sukkah to join our Clergy who will give your baby their first sensory experience of Sukkot!
EHRS’ Open Sukkah, 17:00-18:00
Come and join our Rabbis or Cantor for a cup of tea and a wave of the Lulav in our Sukkah.
Beer and Shiur in the Sukkah, 20:00
Please email rabbi.debbie@ehrs.uk for more information.
Friday 10 October
Sukkot Stay and Play, 10:30-11:45
Join us for a morning of fun and creativity for babies and toddlers with Sukkot themed activities. There will be singing, toys, a lovely Kiddush and refreshments. We welcome parents, carers and grandparents.
Kuddle Up Sukkot, 16:15-16:45
Join our Clergy in the Sukkah for songs, stories about Sukkot and the chance wave the Lulav. Especially for our youngest children and their parents and carers. You are welcome to arrive and play from 15:45.
Chol Ha Mo’ed Sukkot Erev Shabbat Service, 18:30
Our Shabbat services this weekend will end with Kiddush in the Sukkah. They will be dedicated to celebrating the 90th anniversary of the foundation of Edgware and District Reform Synagogue and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Danescroft home of Hendon Reform Synagogue, the two communities which came together in 2017 to create Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue.
Saturday 11 October
Chol Ha Mo’ed Sukkot Shabbat Service, 10:30
Our Shabbat services this weekend will end with Kiddush in the Sukkah. They will be dedicated to celebrating the 90th anniversary of the foundation of Edgware and District Reform Synagogue and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Danescroft home of Hendon Reform Synagogue, the two communities which came together in 2017 to create Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue. This service will include the Hallel and waving of the Lulav for all.
Simchat Torah 2025
This is our festival where we celebrate with simchah the end of our cycle of Torah reading at the end of Deuteronomy and begin the Torah at Genesis again.
In order to recognise that the Hamas attacks on Israel began on Simchat Torah 2023 we will continue as last year with alterations to the way in which the services take place, as a mark of respect to those who were murdered and kidnapped by Hamas and to all that has happened since. But, as Simchat Torah has been celebrated through centuries of Jewish history, we will continue to celebrate the gift of Torah and the values it represents. In the words of the Nova Festival survivors, ‘’We will dance again.’’
Each of our services will begin with a Yizkor (memorial prayers), then we will participate in the spirit enhancing joyful service of Simchat Torah including the Hakkafah (processions and dancing). We will end each service with another time of Yizkor. If you would prefer not to participate in the Hakkafah then one of our Rabbis will be creating a meditative space to be together in the Beit Midrash during that time in the service.
Erev Simchat Torah – Monday 13 October
Simchat Torah Procession Preparation Party, 18:00 (45 minutes)
Join our Rabbis and educators to get your flags, banners and dances ready for our Simchat Torah Hakkafah (procession) in the service that begins at 18:30, with a special tea for the festival! Perfect for primary ages and up.
Erev Simchat Torah Service, 18:30-19:30
Beginning with a Yizkor (memorial prayers) and Including the Hakkafot where we dance with our Sifrei Torah. There will be a meditative space in the Beit Midrash as an alternative to the Hakkafah.
Simchat Torah – Tuesday 14th October
Simchat Torah Morning Service, 10:30
Beginning and ending with a Yizkor (memorial prayers) this is our service where we finish reading the Torah at the end of Deuteronomy and start again in Genesis, with the help of our Chatanim and Kallot Torah and Bereshit and including the Hakkafot where we dance with our Sifrei Torah. There will be a meditative space in the Beit Midrash as an alternative to the Hakkafah.
We are delighted this year to celebrate with our Kallot Bereshit and Torah: Angela Lipman and Michele Pannaman, Chatanim Bereshit and Torah: Guy Kaye and Eric Sander, and Youth Chatan and Kallah: Dillon Perloff and Darcey Coen.
Simchat Torah Club, 10:30
Our family experience on Simchat Torah with our Rabbis begins with your opportunity to help us to celebrate and get our banners and flags ready for the Hakkafat where we dance with our Sifrei Torah. For all the family: 4-10 year-olds led by our clergy, 0-3 Baby Club led by Sarah Koster.