Shmini Atzeret 2020

1“On the eighth day an ATZERET will be for you” (Bamidbar Ch 29 v 35)

2Unkulus translates “ATZERET” as a gathering. The actual Aramaic word Unkulus uses to translate “ATZERET” is “KNISH”. This is the same word used to describe our synagogues as “BATEI KNISHTA” or houses of gathering. It is not immediately clear what gathering the pasuk is referring to here. Most likely it refers to the gathering of the festival pilgrims. The problem is that they are already gathered there from the first days of the holiday. Rashi in Emor quotes the famous analogy of the king‘s children who have been invited for a week’s holiday to the palace. On the eighth day when it’s time to leave the king asks his children to stay just one more day for ”I have difficulty seeing you leave.” According to Rashi we the people are being “gathered” in by our Father in Heaven for “Just one more day”.

3The term ATZERET actually is used by the Chumash to describe the last day of Passover. “And on the seventh day (of Passover) ATZERET to G-d your Lord you may not do work.” Deut Ch 16 V 8”. There ATZERET is associated with withholding from work. One who stops working is gathered in from the fields into the houses to celebrate the holiday.

4The Rabbi’s have borrowed the term “ATZERET” from the Chumash and use it to refer to the holiday of Shavuot. Nowhere in the Chumash is Shavuot called ATZERET! Yet it is THE name given to that holiday.

5In summary all three of the pilgrimage holidays are ATZERET in one form or another.

6The objective of our holidays is to refrain from work, gather together in the holy place and focus on our relationship with G-d. Unlike the first seven days of the holiday which contain many rituals eg Sukkah and Lulav, the 8th day of Sukkoth has no ritual obligations. The holiday of Shmini Atzeret concludes the three High Holy Days and the three Pilgrimage festivals. It is the punctuation mark coming at the end of a long stretched out holiday season which started back in the month of Nisan. It is a time to reflect on all that we have experienced. We gather our thoughts and emotions for the long winter season ahead. We celebrate the torah and the harvests. (“On the fifteenth day of the seventh month when you harvest and gather the grains of the land you will celebrate for seven days.” Vaikra Ch 23 V 39)

7As we “Gather” our thoughts and look back on this past year we are filled with immense sadness for what we have lost coupled with the joy and relief for what we have retained. We hope and pray for a future of good health wealth and happiness and no more suffering.

8Chag Samaeach.