Tonight begins a most unusual holiday. More importantly, from a practical point of view, this holiday is the last one that will preclude me from work for a while- all the way until late March of the coming year! (Now, this is really good news. Because, I can finally make some money!) The Tora gives us very little clue about this holiday or its requirements. It’s simply called the Eighth Day of Assembly (Shmini Atzeret).
Some folks consider it the eighth day of Sukot, the holiday we augured in last Friday. My tradition never considered that definition correct.
We stop eating in a sukah (again, as discussed a week ago) as soon as this 8th day of celebration began. (Note: The Tora says, “It was evening, it was morning”; as such, all of our “days” begin in the evening.) To our tradition, this is a new holiday. And, the only requirement that exists for this holiday is that we celebrate life and our religion. (This is the day that King Solomon dedicated his new temple- the Great Temple in Jerusalem.)
Of course, this holiday means we will add some special prayers to our service, Geshem or the Prayer for Rain. As the start of the rainy season in Israel, these prayers ask the Supreme Being to ensure that there is sufficient rain afforded for plentiful crops. (On Passover, we substitute this prayer for one requesting ample Dew, since the rainy season ends at that time of year.)
This Shmini Atzeret holiday also coincides with another observance called Simchat Tora. (This is a celebration we [the people] created.) Our Jewish tradition involves weekly readings from the Tora (the bible), aka the Five Books of Moses [the first five books of the bible]. On this holiday, we have completed the cycle of reading all five books, with its description of the death of Moses- and immediately begin reading from the very first part of the Tora, the story of creation. The cycle of life continues.
May this new cycle bring you everything you need- but especially health, happiness, and peace.
Thank you for the description – I find it fascinating. And I wish you, also, health, happiness, and peace.
Lori Ferguson recently posted..Time for a hobby?
To you, as well, Lori!
This is a unique insight.I had very little knowledge.Thanks for sharing .
Glad to oblige, Dr. A.
I’ve never heard of this holiday but wishing you health, happiness and peace. Plus so cash since you can get back to work.
I need all those blessings, Martha! Thanks!
Thank you for sharing this. I am learning a lot here. Enjoy your holiday!
Dominique Walton Brooks recently posted..What is Autumn Anxiety?
I always get a kick out of the fact that, though we have some 21 days of very religious observances during the year, 11 of them occur over the course of 23 days, Dominique!
I wish you health, happiness and peace as well, Roy.
Thanks so much, Marcia- and thanks for your visit.
This holiday is a little too complicated for me to follow, Roy. I haven’t come across it before. I will have to look it up. As I’ve said I like reading about the Jewish traditions and rituals. I first fell in love with it in Marjorie Morningstar. Then I’m a big fan of Faye Kellerman’s Peter Decker/Rina Lazaras mystery series. Lastly, I’m following a blog called Suddenly Mad, a woman’s journey through early-onset alzheimer’s. She talks about her Jewish background quite a bit. She is very inspiring. I hope she can keep writing but it’s coming further and further apart.
Lily Leung recently posted..DAY 10 UBC – DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE
I have been a fan of Faye Kellerman forever- she has some great historical fiction stories, too. You should check them out.
Thanks for the visit, Lily!