Sukkot Shabbat Chol HaMoed Intermediate Day of Sukkot on Shabbat — סוּכּוֹת שַׁבָּת חוֹל הַמּוֹעֵד
For the week of September 25, 2021
- TORAH: EXODUS 33:12-34:26
- HAFTARAH: EZEKIEL 38:18-39:16
- GOSPEL: JOHN 7:31-43
Portion Summary
Sukkot (Festival of Tabernacles) is a Jewish holiday celebrated on the 15th day of Tishrei (late September to late October). It is one of the three biblically mandated festivals, shalosh regalim, on which Jews were commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.
According to the prophet Zechariah, in the messianic era, Sukkot will become a universal festival and all nations will make pilgrimages annually to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast there.
On the first day of Sukkot, the following Torah portions are read: Leviticus 22:26-23:44; Numbers 29:12-29:16. On the intermediate days of Sukkot (Chol HaMo’ed), portions from Numbers 29:17-31 are read. When an intermediate day of Sukkot falls on Shabbat, read the portions below.
The Shabbat during Chol HaMo’ed on Sukkot is known as Sukkot Shabbat Chol Hamoed and in addition to the designated Torah reading, maftir, and haftorah readings for that day, Ecclesiastes (Kohelet) is read aloud in synagogue in its entirety with special cantillation prior to the Torah reading during services.