sukkot simchas

Thank you for coming up to Congregation Ohr Tzafon yesterday and participating in our Community Sukkot Session!  Thank you and your children for being excellent guests, and of course, thank you to Ohr Tzafon for hosting a beautiful day.  It was an expression of true community, and I loved shaking the lulav and etrog with so many of our students.  And we certainly left the COT sukkah much more colorful than when we arrived with many beautiful paper chain decorations and birds!  Below are some pictures, and you can find more on our shared album here.  Plus, I've attached the sheets I used for the sukkah and lulav blessings, and the symbolic meaning of the parts of the lulav if you would like for your own homes.  Though, we'll have the chance to do this again Saturday night and Sunday at TNS - 
 Sukkot blessings

And Sukkot isn't even nearly over!  We have a whole TNS weekend ahead of us with Rabbi Sammy Rosenbaum returning for Family Service, a Sukkot Potluck and Havdalah, and a Sukkot Sunday service.  So please plan to come for the following:

• Friday night Family Shabbat, 6pm at TNS.  Kabbalat Shabbat music followed by traditional service.  Dinner out at Petra for anyone who can join afterwards!
• Saturday evening Sukkot Potluck and Havdalah at 5pm at the Schloss House in SLO.  Evite to follow soon!  Bring a veggie or fish dish to share for our harvest Sukkot celebration.  Rabbi Rosenbaum will lead us in Havdalah.
• Sunday Sukkot Service at Sunday school!  Starting at 930am we will host a proper Sukkot service with Torah reading.  Students, parents, and community members are invited to stay for the service and help make the minyan.  The Gan room will be open for our youngest students.  Naama and Joel will lead discussions and Simchat Torah activities with our older kids in the Klein room and sukkah.  Bnei mitzvah kids get to be a part of experiencing the Torah service.  So - it won't be a traditional day of Sunday school, but full of tradition!!!
• Plus we've got Monday night for Simchat Torah at TNS.  Details to follow on that holiday celebration dancing with our Torah at synagogue

Todah Rabah to all who have and continue to sign up on the Parent Sign Up form.  Thank you to the Pringles who are taking on registrar work and playground renovation.  Thank you to Kristin for amazing High Holiday Kids Services.  Thank you to all of you who see the promise of our synagogue, our land, and our community.  All of this takes a village - and it's because of all of YOU that our kids are part of such a vibrant experience with TNS school!

Chag Sukkot Sameach
-Lauren