Punkin’ Chunkin’, Craig Taubman and more: Sukkot in the South

There will be a wide range of activities for Sukkot in the region. If you plan to attend — particularly congregational dinners — check with the institution to see if reservations are needed and if there is a charge.

Beth Shalom in Auburn will have a Havdalah service with pizza in the sukkah on Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. with Rabbi Dreffin of the Institute of Southern Jewish Life.

Auburn Hillel will have a Sukkah building event on Sept. 19 at 5 p.m. on Cater Lawn, followed by pizza in the hut.

Chabad of Alabama is hosting a luncheon in honor of the recent birth of twin daughters to Rabbi Laibel and Chanie Berkowitz of Huntsville, follows Sept. 19 10 a.m. service (appx. 12:30 p.m.). Sushi Salad Scotch in the Sukkah will be Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. — adults only.

Birmingham’s Knesseth Israel has a Sukkot dinner catered by David Aaron, following mincha on Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Temple Beth-El, Birmingham, is holding a community and religious school cookout, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. Shabbat dinner in the sukkah follows the 5:45 p.m. service on Sept. 20. On Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m., there will be a spaghetti dinner prior to the Simchat Torah service.

Birmingham’s Temple Emanu-El holds a Sukkot service and Pizza In Our Hut, Sept. 18 at 5 p.m. The Simchat Torah service and consecration will be Sept. 27 at 5:40 p.m., with a black tie optional dinner afterward.

The Levite Jewish Community Center in Birmingham will start a day of Sukkot celebrations on Sept. 22 with yoga in the sukkah at 8 a.m., led by Annie Damsky of Villager Yoga. The Sukkot Harvest Festival will begin at 12:30 p.m., with music, the Slice pizza food truck, hay rides, pumpkins and produce for sale, and youth activities.

Starting at 1 p.m. there will be the first Punkin’ Chunkin’ contest, where participants compete to see who can launch 1-pound pumpkins the farthest using slingshots or trebuchet mechanisms. Prizes will be awarded in three divisions, and creativity in building the mechanisms is encouraged. Rules are here.

Temple Emanu-El, Dothan, is building its sukkah on Sept. 18 at 5:30 p.m., with a pizza dinner. Consecration and Simchat Torah will be on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.

Temple B’nai Israel in Florence is building the sukkah on Sept. 20 at 5:30 p.m. A service follows at 6:30 p.m., then a covered dish dinner at 7:15 p.m. Participants are requested to help out with the congregation’s obligation to bring desserts this week for the soup kitchen.

Etz Chayim, Huntsville, will hold a congregation pot luck (dairy) on Sept. 26 at 5:45 p.m., followed by a 6:30 p.m. Simchat Torah service and Consecration.

Temple B’nai Sholom in Huntsville has a Sukkot celebration and sukkah raising on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. Their Sukkot potluck and Consecration will be Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.

Agudath Israel-Etz Ahayem, Montgomery, will hold Pray In Pink Shabbat in the Sukkah, in conjunction with the Joy To Life Foundation. There will be a wine and cheese event at 5:15 p.m. on Sept. 20, followed by the event at 6 p.m. Guest speaker will be Steve Davidson, president of the Alabama Society of Clinical Oncology.

The congregation will also host a Craig Taubman concert, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m.

Temple Beth Or, Montgomery, has its Sukkot service Sept. 18 at 6 p.m.

Temple Emanu-El, Tuscaloosa, invites the community to Pizza in the Hut, Sept. 22 at noon. The sukkah is located between the Temple and Hillel.

Alabama Hillel is having pizza in the sukkah on Sept. 18 at 5 p.m.

Temple Beth Shalom, Ft. Walton Beach, has its Sukkot service on Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Temple Beth El in Pensacola has a Young Jewish Pensacola Slam in the Sukkah, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. The congregation’s board meeting will be over dinner in the sukkah on Sept. 19 at 5:30 p.m., and Shabbat Under the Stars will be Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. The School for Jewish Living will have a sukkah sleepover at the Fleekop home on Sept. 21, starting at 5 p.m., and the Simchat Torah and Consecration service will be Sept. 25 with dinner at 6 p.m. and service at 6:45 p.m.

Gemiluth Chassodim, Alexandria, is having Sukkot services on Sept. 20 at 5:30 p.m., followed by a covered dish dinner. Canned goods for the Shepherd Center are requested.

At Beth Shalom in Baton Rouge, Sukkah decorating starts at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 18, with a Pot Luck dinner at 6 p.m. and services at 7p.m. The Simchat Torah celebration features the Panorama Jazz Band on Sept. 26. A deli dinner starts at 6 p.m., with the service at 7 p.m.

B’nai Israel in Baton Rouge is holding a brief service on Sept. 22 at 6 p.m., followed by potluck dinner in the sukkah. The congregation has a Sukkot family picnic, Sept. 22 at 11:30 a.m., and a Women of B’nai Israel dinner in the sukkah on Sept. 23 at 6 p.m.

Northshore Jewish Congregation, Mandeville has a barbecue dinner on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m., followed by services at 7 p.m.

Chabad Uptown, New Orleans, hosts Sukkot Under The Stars for Young Professionals, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Rivkin home on Jeannette Street. On Sept. 22 at 5:30 p.m., Sukkah Fest 2013 will feature music by Tomer Monfred, along with a menu that includes jambalaya, at Chabad Uptown.

Gates of Prayer in Metairie will have a dinner and program in the sukkah on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m., followed by services in the sukkah. On Sept. 20 there is Shabbat Yeladim at 5:45 p.m., and at 8 p.m. there will be a Shabbat service in the sukkah, “bring your favorite appropriate joke.”

Shir Chadash in Metairie will have Sukkot services and dinner on Sept. 20 at 6:45 p.m.

Beth Israel in Metairie has a dinner in the sukkah, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m., following the 6 p.m. service. On Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. there is a wine and cheese in the sukkah for women, and on Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. the men have Monday Night Football in the sukkah.

On Sept. 24, there will be an OctoberFEST concert in the Beth Israel sukkah starting at 7 p.m., with an Oompah band, Rabbi Gabe and Abby Greenberg, and Simchat Torah flag making for kids. A Simchat Torah buffet dinner will be on Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Touro Synagogue in New Orleans holds a Sukkot Ushpizin dinner on Sept. 18 at 5:30 p.m., and a “BYO-lunch” in the sukkah on Sept. 20 at noon. On Sept. 22 at 11:30 a.m. there will be a Saints in the Sukkah potluck.

Temple Sinai, New Orleans decorates the sukkah and holds a pizza party Sept. 18 at 4 p.m. Shabbat family service on Sept. 20 at 6:15 p.m., featuring grades 3 to 5, followed by a family dinner.

Tulane Hillel holds Shakshukah in the Sukkah, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m., and a Sukkot Happy Hour Sept. 20 at 6 p.m.

Chabad at Tulane and ZBT will co-host Shabbat Dinner Under the Stars, in the sukkah at Chabad that was built by ZBT. Service on Sept. 21 at 7 p.m., dinner at 8 p.m.

Community Day School holds a community family Sukkot dinner and celebration on Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. at Bart Field, at the Goldring/Woldenberg campus in Metairie.

JNOLA and the Melton School co-host a Wine and Cheese Night in the sukkah of Rabbi Linden in Metairie, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. He will then lead an abbreviated Melton lesson.

At Agudath Achim in Shreveport, the Simchat Torah covered dish dinner will be Sept. 26 at 6:45 p.m., and is pareve or dairy.

B’nai Zion in Shreveport holds its Shabbat Harvest Sukkot Dinner on Sept. 20. The service is at 6 p.m., with dinner at approximately 7:15 p.m. The vegetarian harvest dinner is catered by Rachel Ginsburg.

Beth Israel, Biloxi, has an Oneg in the sukkah after the 8 p.m. service Sept. 20. There will be a hot dog dinner between Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah services on Sept. 26, 6:30 p.m.

B’nai Israel in Hattiesburg is holding a Sukkot service on Sept. 20 at 6:30 p.m. The religious school will have a sukkah building event on Sept. 22 at 9:45 a.m.

Beth Israel, Jackson, is hosting Pizza in the Hut, Sept. 18 at 5:30 p.m., followed by outdoor services. Simchat Torah and Consecration will be Sept. 25 with a potluck dinner at 5:30 p.m., and service at 6:15 p.m.