Chag Sameach!
We are excited to welcome you to join us for our Sukkot, Shmini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah celebrations. Keep reading to find out more about our upcoming programs.
Sukkot Happenings
October 6-13
Sukkot is the celebration of sacred time with its ties to nature, the Sukkah, and the successful conclusion of the High Holiday season. Please stay tuned for opportunities to gather with friends and community for food, prayer, study, conversation, and fun
Sukkah Build and Decoration
Sunday, October 5
- Build: 9am
- Decorate: 11am
Please join Men’s Club and Sisterhood in building the sukkah and making it beautiful. This year, we’ll be joined by Foundation School young families for sukkah decorating – we encourage you to bring your whole family to share in the joy of this tradition.
To join the build, please contact Zachary Horowitz.
To join decorating, please sign up here
The tear-down will be on Thursday, October 16, 8am.
SUKKOT SERVICES
Tuesday, October 7
9:30am Sukkot Service (Kiddush lunch to follow)
Wednesday, October 8
9:30am Sukkot Service (Kiddush lunch to follow)
Thursday through Friday, October 9-10
7:00am Morning Minyan Chol HaMoed Sukkot Service
6:15pm Friday Evening Festival Shabbat Service
Saturday, October 11
9:30am Shabbat Morning Services, Bat Mitzvah of Anna Comella
Sunday, October 12
8:45am Chol HaMoed Sukkot Service
Monday, October 13
7:00am Morning Minyan Hoshana Rabah Service
Hoshana Rabah comes toward the end of Sukkot. The ancient custom of beating willow branches at the conclusion of morning services pulls back the curtain on early Judaism and our land-based rituals. In a time of renewed environmental concerns, this unusual tradition has regained its relevance.
Our Sukkah is Your Sukkah: Drop-in
We welcome you to pack a brown bag/picnic-style lunch and gather with your family and friends in our sukkah on the Holzman Plaza. No registration is needed.
Open dates and times:
- Monday, October 6, 12-4pm
- Tuesday, October 7, 12-4pm
- Wednesday, October 8, 12-4pm
- Friday, October 10, 12-5pm
- Saturday, October 11, 12-2pm
- Sunday, October 12, 12-4pm
ALIYAH K-6th Grade Family Dinner and Forest Treasure Hunt
Monday, October 6, 6pm
Please join ALIYAH K-6 families for a warm and friendly dinner in Neveh Shalom’s beautiful sukkah to kick off our harvest holiday. There will also be a forest treasure hunt for 3rd-6th graders, starting at 6:30pm.
Dinner: $15 per person or $60/ family max (per household)
CNS Young Adults Happy Hour in the Sukkah
Tuesday, October 7, 6:00pm
Join the fun and shake your lulav in the Neveh Shalom sukkah during this casual and welcoming evening! Connect with young adults in their 20s & 30s from around the Portland Jewish community as we welcome Sukkot with pizza, drinks, and board games. $5.00.
Friends are welcomed and encouraged. Please RSVP here so we know how much pizza to buy 
Questions? Contact CNS Program Director, Lisa Richmond: lrichmond@nevehshalom.org.
Teen/Tichon Sukkot Dinner & Silent Disco Party (7th-12th graders)
Wednesday, October 8, 6:300-8:30pm
All 7th – 12th graders are invited to join us for a special holiday dinner and party in Neveh Shalom’s beautiful sukkah to celebrate the end of our harvest holiday together.
Dinner: $15 per teen not enrolled in Tichon. Tichon students free.
Tichon teens are assumed to be attending AND should fill out the RSVP if they have specific dietary needs.
Wondering Jews/Wise Women in the Sukkah 2025
Thursday, October 9, 12:00pm
Spend a lovely afternoon with the Neveh Shalom Wondering Jews (65+ retirees and empty-nesters) and Wise Women as we join forces this Sukkot! Join us in our peaceful sukkah for a chance to schmooze with clergy and friends, enjoy lunch, and reflect in a casual and warm atmosphere.
Bring your own brown bag lunch, or choose from one of the following options available for purchase from Garbanzo’s Cafe at the J:
Falafel Plate: House made falafel served on a plate with mixed vegetable salad, coleslaw, potato salad, tabouli, hummus, tahini, baba ghanouj, and pita bread. $13.00 CNS congregant/$16.00 non-CNS congregant
Lentil Soup & Mixed Vegetable Salad (vegan/gluten-free). 9.00$ CNS congregant/$12.00 non-CNS congregant
Foundation School Family Dinner
Thursday, October 9, 5:00pm
Spend time with your child’s teachers and other families!
New Member Havdallah in the Sukkah
Saturday, October 11, 4:00pm, CNS Sukkah
We’re thrilled to invite all our new members to our New Member Havdallah in the Sukkah event!
Join us for some refreshments, enjoy a drink, shake the lulav and etrog, and make new connections. Bring the kids along—there will be plenty of activities for them too! We can’t wait to meet many of you for the first time, reconnect with familiar faces, and help introduce our newest members to each other. After all, building community is what we’re all about!
We look forward to seeing you there! Click here to RSVP.
Modern Mishkan Havdallah
Saturday, October 11, 6:00pm, Vestry
Celebrate Havdallah in the Modern Mishkhan, a beautiful 3D silk rendering of the ancient mishkhan.
Diane Fredgant’s artistic rendering of the ancient mishkan is constructed in the shape of an open torah scroll. It has the 613 commandments written in Hebrew and in English. Colors dance vibrantly on layered silk walls; the Tree of Life stands witness to all who enter.
Potluck in the Sukkah
Sunday, October 12, 7:00pm
The entire kehillah is invited to join Men’s Club and Sisterhood in the sukkah. Bring a parve-dairy dish to share, shake the lulav, eat, and be merry!
Contact: elovitzclan@comcast.net
Shemini Atzeret/Yizkor Service
The strength of the Jewish family depends on an intergenerational covenant of mutual concern. One way we demonstrate that is at Yizkor services, when we reflect on those who came before us. This is a powerful moment to replenish our memories and our love of those we have lost.
SHEMINI ATZERET SERVICE
Tuesday, October 14
9:30am Shemini Atzeret/Yizkor Service
Simchat Torah
October 14-15
Simchat Torah celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of Torah readings and the beginning of a new cycle.
Tuesday, October 14
Celebrate with us the end and new beginning of the Torah cycle. The final portion of the Torah is called “v’zot HaBracha, and THIS is the Blessing.” Together we’ll dance and sing as we revel in the blessings of community!
You are invited to join us for any and all components of this festive evening:
- 5:00-6:00pm Young Family Program (K-2nd)
- 5:00-6:00pm Youth Activities with Camp Solomon Schecter (3rd-8th)
- 6:00-6:45pm Fish & Chips Dinner
- 6:45-8:30pm Simchat Torah Celebration
Simchat Torah Morning Service
Wednesday, October 15, 9:30am
Please join us for our Simchat Torah morning service with a kiddush lunch to follow.
