| How-To
Build a Sukkah 
You will need: Building materials (PVC pipe, wooden boards, cement blocks, etc), Material to cover the sides, S'chach - Tree or Palm branches (or other material to form a "roof"), Tools, twine, wire as needed depending upon construction needs
The word Sukkot means booths, and refers to the temporary dwellings (sukkah) that we are commanded to live in during the holiday of Sukkot. The commandment to "dwell" in a sukkah can be fulfilled by simply eating all of one's meals there; however, if the weather, climate, and one's health permit, one should live in the sukkah as much as possible, including sleeping in it. It is common practice, and highly commendable, to decorate the sukkah. In the northeastern United States, Jews commonly hang dried squash and corn in the sukkah to decorate it, because these vegetables are readily available at that time for the American holidays of Halloween and Thanksgiving.
A sukkah must have at least three sides - one of which may be the side of a permanent building. The sukkah may be put together with whatever sturdy material you are able to find. The sukkah must only be a temporary building and must not have a completely closed roof (or be under a permanent roof). The s'chach ("roofing") must be something that was growing from the ground but is now completely cut off such as bamboo shoots, tree branches, or corn stalks which are placed over horizontal supports. The s'chach must allow sunlight through but also block about half of the sunlight. Anything that is still in the ground may not cover the sukkah (even partially) - the sukkah must be under open sky. Once the frame and roof are set into place, the walls may be decorated with cloth, rugs, tarps, or anything else you desire. It is traditional to decorate the sukkah with fruit, posters, gourds, paper chains, and other decorative touches.
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Havdalah 
You will need: Glass of wine or grape juice, Havdalah candle, Fragrant spices, Matches
The Havdalah ceremony represents the end of Shabbat. It is performed when the first three stars are seen in the sky (approximately 42 minutes after candle-lighting time). The ceremony uses wine, spices, and a special twisted candle. The wine represents the sweetness of Shabbat. The spices represent the feelings of peace and hope of Shabbat. The twisted candle represents light, the first element of G-d at the beginning of creation.
Step 1: Recite the opening brocha
| Behold! G-d is my salvation, I shall trust and not fear-for G-d, Hashem, is my might and my praise-and He was a salvation for me. You can draw water with joy, from the springs of salvation. Salvation is Hashem's, upon Your people is Your blessing, Selah. Hashem, Master of legions is with us, a stronghold for us is the G-d of Jacob, Selah. Hashem, Master of legions, praised is the man who trusts in You. Hashem save! May the King answer us on the day we call. For the Jews there was light, gladness, joy, and honor-so may it be for us. I will raise the cup of salvations, and I will invoke the Name of Hashem |
Step 2: Recite the brocha over the wine
| Blessed are you, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine. Amen |
Step 3: The prayer leader takes a sip of wine
Step 4: Recite the brocha over the spices
| Blessed are you, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who creates species of fragrance. Amen |
Step 5: Smell the spices
Step 6: Recite the brocha over the havdalah candle
| Blessed are you, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who creates the illuminations of the fire. Amen |
Step 7: Light the havdalah candle
Step 8: Hold your hands up to the flames with your fingers curled and look at the shadows on your palms
Step 9: Recite the havdalah brocha
| Blessed are you, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who separates between holy and secular, between light and darkness, between Israel and the nations, between the seventh day and the six days of labor. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who separates between holy and secular. Amen |
Step 10: The prayer leader drinks the majority of the wine in the cup and pours the rest into the a dish
Step 11: Everyone present dips their fingers in the wine and touch their eyelids and inner pockets with them to symbolize the light of the mitzvah
Step 12: The prayer leader extinguishes the candle's flames in the wine
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Light Chanukah Candles
You will need: Chanukiah (Chanukah Menorah), 44 candles, Matches
Chanukah, the festival of lights, is a Rabbinic clebration that begins on 25 Kislev (in November or December). Chanukah celebrates the miracle of the oil in the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees’ defeat of the Greek army as well as the Jew’s freedom in the current time. Chanukah is not mentioned in the Hebrew Scripture but is related in the book of Maccabbees, which Jews do not accept as scripture. The only religious observance related to the holiday is the lighting of candles. The candles are arranged in a chanukiah that holds nine candles: one for each night, plus a shamus (servant) at a different height.
Step 1: Place a candle in the shamash position and the number of candles required for each night (start on the farthest right - as you face the chanukiah)
Step 2: Light the shamash candle and recite the following blessings
Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light
Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has wrought miracles for our forefathers, in those days at this season |
Step 3: Recite the Shehecheyanu blessing (first night only)
| Blessed are you, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season |
Step 4: Light the candles using the shamash candle (light the left-most candle first)
Step 5: Recite the Hanerot Hallalu
| These lights we kindle upon the miracles, the wonders, the salvations, and the battles which You performed for our forefathers in those days at this season, through Your holy priests. During all eight days of Chanukah these lights are sacred, and we are not permitted to make ordinary use of them, but to look at them, in order to express thanks and praise to Your great Name for Your miracles, Your wonders and Your salvation. |
Step 6: Recite the Maoz Tzur
O mighty Rock of my salvation, to praise You is a delight. Restore my House of Prayer and there we will bring a thanksgiving offering. When You will have prepared the slaughter for the blaspheming foe, then I shall complete with a song of hymn the dedication of the Altar.
Troubles sated my soul, when with grief my strength was consumed. They had embittered my life with hardship, with the calf-like kingdom's bondage. But with His great power He brought forth the treasured ones. Pharaoh's army and all his offspring went down like a stone into the deep. To the abode of His holiness He brought me, but there too, I had no rest; and an oppressor came and exiled me. For I had served aliens, and had drunk benumbing wine. Scarcely had I departed my land when at Babylonia's demise Zerubabel came. At the end of seventy years I was saved.
To sever the towering cypress sought the Aggagite, son of Hammedatha, but it became a snare and a stumbling block to him and his arrogance was stilled. The head of the Benjaminite You lifted and the enemy, his name You blotted out. His numerous progeny - his possessions - on the gallows You hanged.
Greeks gathered against me then in Hasmonean days. They breached the walls of my towers and they defiled all the oils; and from the one remnant of the flasks a miracle was wrought for the roses. Men of insight - eight days established for song and jubilation.
Bare Your holy arm and hasten the End for salvation. Avenge the vengeance of Your servant's blood from the wicked nation. For the triumph is too long delayed for us, and there is no end of days of evil. Repel the Red One in the nethermost shadow and establish for us the seven shepherds. |
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Light Shabbat Candles
You will need: Two candles, Matches
Shabbat candle-lighting is obligatory upon all adults (including teens who are bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah). (see the Chabad website to find out the proper candle-lighting time) on Friday nights to usher in the Shabbat bride. Traditionally, the women of the house and any girls three-years-old and older are to light the Shabbat candles. By lighting the candles and saying the brocha (blessing) all adults in the house are considered to have lit the candles. If the woman of the house is not present the man is to perform the mitzvot. If neither is at home the mitzvot falls upon a bar/bat mitzvah child (preferably a female). All single adults who live on their own are required to light the Shabbat candles.
Step 1: Gather the candles and those who are participating - it is suggested that a moment of meditation take place to bring yourself into a spiritual atmosphere
Step 2: Light the candles
Step 3: Cup your hands and encircle the flames of the candles three times
Step 4: Cup your hands over yours eyes and recite the blessing
| Blessed are you, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the light of the Sabbath |
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Mezuzah
You will need: Mezuzah Case, Mezuzah Scroll, Screws and Screw diver or Nails and Hammer
A mezuzah is a container which is placed on the the doorposts of traditional Jewish homes. It is a constant reminder of G-d's presence and G-d's mitzvot. The words of the Shema are written on a tiny scroll (Mezuzah Scroll) of parchment, along with the words of a companion passage, Deuteronomy 11:13-21. On the back of the scroll, a name of G-d is written. The scroll is then rolled up and placed in the case, so that the first letter of the Name (the letter Shin) is visible (or the letter Shin is written on the outside of the case). Each doorway of a Jewish house must have a mezuzah (with some exceptions such as closets and bathrooms). Every time you pass through a door with a mezuzah on it, you touch the mezuzah and then kiss the fingers that touched it, expressing love and respect for G-d and his mitzvot and reminding yourself of the mitzvot contained within them. It is proper to remove a mezuzah when you move, and in fact, it is usually recommended. If you leave it in place, the subsequent owner may treat it with disrespect, and this is a grave sin.
Step 1: Place the Mezuzah scroll in the Mezuzah case and hold the Mezuzah case against the doorpost where one plans to affix it. The Mezuzah should be affixed at the lowest point of the upper-third of the right-side (as one enters the room) of the doorpost (about shoulder height) angled in toward the room.
Step 2: Perform the Chanukkat HaBayit (dedication of the house) over the first mezuzah by reciting the following blessings.
| Blessed are you, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to affix a mezuzah |
Step 3: Affix the mezuzah to the doorpost
Step 4: Recite the Shehecheyanu blessing
| Blessed are you, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season |
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Shabbat Eve Kiddush
You will need: Glass of wine or grape juice, Bowl and pitcher with water, Challah
After the kindling of the Shabbat candles, the family gathers to welcome the Shabbat. The mitzvah of reciting or listening to the kiddush is obligatory for men and women - including those of bar/bat mitzvah age. The first section of the Kiddush recognizes that G-d created the Creation in six days. By observing the seventh day as the Shabbat, we bear testimony to G-d's creation.
Step 1: Recite the brocha over the wine
And there was evening and there was morning the sixth day. Thus were finished the heavens and the earth, and all their array. On the seventh day G-d completed His work which He had done, and He abstained on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. G-d blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it He had abstained from all His work which G-d created to make. Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine. Amen
Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, took pleasure in us, and His holy Sabbath, with love and with favor He gave us as a heritage, a remembrance of Creation. For that day is the prologue to holy convocations, a memorial of the Exodus from Egypt. For us did You choose and us did You sanctify from among all the peoples. And Your holy Sabbath, with love and favor, You gave us as a heritage. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who sanctifies the Sabbath. Amen |
Step 2: The prayer leader drinks the wine and gives a sip of wine from the kiddush cup to everyone participating
Step 3: Recite the brocha over washing your hands
| Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us regarding washing the hands |
Step 4: Wash your hands
| Pour water from the pitcher over the top and bottom of the right hand and then the left hand three times |
Step 5: Recite the brocha over the challah
| Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth |
Step 6: The prayer leader breaks apart the challah and everyone particpating partakes
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Shake the Lulav
You will need: Etrog, Lulav
The Lulav is the combination "four species" (Leviticus 23:40) used during Sukkot. The four species in question are a palm branch (in Hebrew, lulav), two willow branches (arava) and three myrtle branches (hadas). The six branches are bound together and referred to collectively as the lulav. The etrog (a citron) is held separately. With these four species in hand, one recites a blessing and waves the species in all six directions (east, south, west, north, up and down, symbolizing the fact that G-d is everywhere).
Step 1: Hold the lulav in your right hand and the etrog in your left and face east.
Step 2: Bring your hands together with the oketz (the part attached to the tree) of the etrog facing up.
Step 3: Recite the blessing
| Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to hold the lulav |
Step 4: Recite the Shehecheyanu blessing (first day only)
| Blessed are you, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season |
Step 5: Invert the etrog - holding the oketz facing down
Step 6: Shake the lulav and etrog three times in front of you
Step 7: Shake the lulav and etrog three times to your right
Step 8: Shake the lulav and etrog three times to your left
Step 9: Shake the lulav and etrog three times up
Step 10: Shake the lulav and etrog three times down
Step 11: Shake the lulav and etrog three times to your back
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Tallit
You will need: Tallit
The Tallit is a prayer shawl with tztitzits on all four corners warn by religous Jews (men in Orthodoxy and some women in non-Orthodox sects) during morning prayer services.
Step 1: Hold the tallit in front of you.
Step 2: Recite the blessing.
| Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to wrap ourselves in tzitzit |
Step 3: Place the tallit over your head and shoulders and kiss the tzitzit.
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Tallit Katan
You will need: Tallit Katan
The Tallit Katan is a four-cornered garment that have tzitzit hanging from all four corners. Observant Jewish men (and women in non-Orthodox Judaism) commonly wear it in addition to the Tallis during morning services. This permits them to fulfill the important mitzvah of tzitzit all day long.
Step 1: Put the tallit katan on.
Step 2: Hold the tzitzit and recite the blessing.
| Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to wrap ourselves in tzitzit |
Step 3: Kiss the Tzitzit.
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Tefillin
You will need: Tefillin Shel Rosh, Tefillin Shel Yad
Tefillin are two leather boxes containing four passages of the Torah that refer to the Tefillin (Exodus 13:1-10,11-16; Deuteronomy 6:4-8, 11:13-21). They are warn by religous Jews (men in Orthodoxy and some women in non-Orthodox sects) during morning prayer services. The Shema commands Jews to bind the words to our hands and between our eyes. This is accomplished by laying tefillin (phylacteries), binding to our arms and foreheads a leather pouch containing scrolls of Torah passages. At weekday morning services, one case is tied to the arm (Tefillin Shel Yad), with the scrolls at the biceps and leather straps extending down the arm to the hand, then another case is tied to the head (Tefillin Shel Rosh), with the case on the forehead and the straps hanging down over the shoulders.
Step 1: Stand (Ashkenazi) or sit (Sephardic) after putting on the Tallit. Remember not to talk while leying Tefillin.
Step 2: Roll up the left shirt sleeve (right-handed people) or right shirt sleeve (left-handed people). Unwrap the straps of the shel yad and take it out of the protective box. Slide the loop over your arm and place the shel yad on your bicep.
Step 3: Recite the first blessing.
| Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to put on tefillin |
Step 4: Tighten the shel yad strap.
Step 5: Wrap the strap once around your biceps and seven times around your lower arm. Stop at palm, and wrap the remainder of the strap around your palm. Do not wrap the strap around your fingers yet.
Step 6: Unwrap the straps of the shel rosh and take it out of the protective box. Place the shel rosh just above your hairline with the knot just above your neck and the straps hanging loosely.
Step 7: Recite the second blessing.
| Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us concerning the mitzvah of tefillin |
Step 8: Tighten the straps around your head and recite the statement.
| Blessed is His Name, Whose glorious kingdom is forever and ever |
Step 9: Unwind the shel yad strap from your palm, as the strap comes from the wrist. (pictures and video)
Step 10: Bring the strap around to the middle finger. Wrap around the upper part of the middle finger once and around the lower part of the middle finger twice.
Step 11: Loop the strap around the fourth finger, bringing it over the finger to the middle of the palm.
Step 12: Continue to wrap the strap around the palm - leaving 2-3 inches to tie around the strap to hold it tight.
Step 13: After the morning prayers, tefillin are removed.
Step 14: Unwrap the shel yad from your fingers and leave it wrapped around your fist.
Step 15: Take off the shel rosh, place it back in the protective box and wrap the strap loosely around the box.
Step 16: Take off the shel yad, place it back in the protective box and wrap the strap loosely around the box.
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Tie Tzizit
You will need: Tzitzit, Tallit or Tallit Katan
Tzitzit are braided threads worn by religous Jews (men in Orthodoxy and some women in non-Orthodox sects) on Tallit during morning prayer services and throughout the day on Tallit Katan. The Torah (Numbers 15:37-41) commands Jews to wear tzizit (fringes) at the corners of our garments as a reminder of the mitzvot. The mitzvah to wear tzizit only applies to four-cornered garments, which were common in biblical times but are not common anymore. Observant Jewish men (and women in non-Orthodox Judaism) commonly wear a special four-cornered garment, called a tallit katan ("little tallit"), in addition to the Tallis during morning services. This permits them to fulfill this important mitzvah all day long. The tallit katan is worn under the shirt, with the tzizit hanging out so they can be seen. [picture]
Step 1: Even up three short strands and one long strand (Shamash) and pass them through the hole in the corner of the garment ensuring they are even on both sides (leave the extra length of the shamash hanging to the side)
Step 2: With four strands in one hand and four strands in the other, make a double knot near the edge of the material
Step 3: Take the shamash and wind it around the other seven strands in a spiral motion seven times
Step 4: Tie a double knot
Step 5: Wind the shamash around the seven strands in a spiral motion eight times
Step 6: Tie a double knot
Step 7: Wind the shamash around the seven strands in a spiral motion eleven times
Step 8: Tie a double knot
Step 9: Wind the shamash around the seven strands in a spiral motion thirteen times
Step 10: Tie a double knot
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