Tonight begins one of the most unusual holidays of our religion. It is the last one that bars me from working until April or so. (Good. Now, I can make some money!) The bible gives us very little clue about this holiday. It’s called the Eighth Day of Assembly (Shmini Atzeret in Hebrew).
Some folks consider this to be an eighth day of Sukot (the holidaythta started and I discussed a week ago). My family never considered that definition correct. We stop eating in Sukah (again, discussed a week ago) as soon as this day begins. (Note: The bible says, “It was evening, it was morning”; all “days” begin in the evening.)
No, folks, this is a a new holiday. And, the only requirement that exists for this holiday is that we celebrate life and our religion.
Today was the day that King Solomon dedicated the Bet HaMikdash- the holy temple- on Mount Moriah that sat atop Jerusalem. (It is where the sacrifice of Isaac was to be held, and is now the place whee the Dome of the Rock resides.)
Of course, it is our ritual to add a special prayer to our service today- Geshem or the Prayer for Rain. It’s the start of the rainy season in Israel, and the prayers ask the Supreme Being to insure that there is sufficient rain afforded for plentiful crops. (On Passover, we substitute this prayer for one of Dew, since the rainy season ends at that time of year.)
It also coincides with another holiday observance called Simchat Tora. (Translated as “Tora Celebratkon’ , it is a celebration we created, one not ordained from Hashem.) We normally read from the Tora (the bible), the Five Books of Moses [the first five books of the bible] every week. On this holiday, we have completed the cycle of reading all five books, with its description of the death of Moses- and then immediately begin reading from the very first part of the bible, the story of creation.
May this new cycle bring you everything you need- but especially health, happiness, and peace.
To celebrate life and religion sounds awesome. Thank you for sharing a bit more of your religion with us.
Honored by your comments.
It’s fascinating to learn about this celebration and is it or is it not a holiday!? Thank you for sharing!
Glad to share!
The events of today, October 7, the 50th anniversary of the start of the Yom Kippur war, has brought new meaning to today’s holiday. As we watch in horror, we don’t yet know what is happening next. Today there is little peace in the Holy Land.
yes, it is most disheartening, Alana.