Sukkot is known as z’man simchateinu, the time of our rejoicing. One of the major mitzvot of the holiday is to ‘dwell’ in a sukkah. So we build these temporary structures. This prayer for Sukkot focuses on how rejoicing flows naturally from the active choice to build a life of wonder and awe, integrity and honor. It appears in This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day from CCAR Press.

The Season of Building
This is the season of building:
Of building tents of holiness,
Shelters of peace
In our land and in our hearts.

This is the season of rejoicing:
Of rejoicing in God’s bounty and grace,
In the radiance and splendor
In heaven and on earth.

This is the season of thanksgiving:
Of giving thanks for the gifts of the land,
For gifts yet to come
As we delight in the wonders of creation.

This is the season of building:
The season of building tabernacles of joy and gladness,
In our moments and in our days,
In our homes and in our lives.
This is the season that summons jubilation and exultation
As we yearn for the great promise to be fulfilled:
A world of harmony and love
Under one great Sukkah,
A sanctuary of wonder and awe
For all nations and all peoples,
Men and women arrayed in the light of God’s glory,
Until the end of days.

© 2017 CCAR Press from This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day

Postscript: Here’s a link to more prayers for Sukkot. This is part of a series of prayers tied to various holidays and seasonal themes in the Jewish calendar, including: “The Season of Freedom,” “The Season of Dedication,” The Season of Counting,” “The Season of Healing” and “The Season of Return.”

Please check out my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer,” and This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” To receive my latest prayers via email, please subscribe (on the home page). You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

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