Shemini Atzeret
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SHEMINI ATZERET: ASSEMBLY OF THE EIGHTH DAY
Shemini Atzeret is the last biblical holiday for a while (until March 2021 for Passover). The Memorial Day of Trumpets (Rosh Hashana), Yom HaKippurim (Yom Kippur) and Chag HaSuccot (Succot) all fell within the seventh Hebrew month of Tishrei and Leviticus 23:36 (1) says that on the day after Succot, we are to hold another sacred assembly and refrain from regular work (as we did on the first day of Succot). We are also required to present an offering made by fire (as we did throughout Succot).
https://biblehub.com/interlinear/leviticus/23-36.htm.
'Shemini' means 'eighth' and 'atzeret' means 'assembly' (2) and we thus hold an assembly on the eighth day after the beginning of Succot. Leviticus 23:39 says this is to be a 'Shabbaton'; a day of rest like Shabbat.
https://biblehub.com/interlinear/leviticus/23-39.htm.
Chapter 8 of the Book of Nehemiah gives us an insight into how the ancient Israelites went about following these holidays.
Nehemiah, Chapter 8: https://biblehub.com/bsb/nehemiah/8.htm (3).
For example, Nehemiah 8:13 says:
"On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe [also a priest] in order to understand the words of the Law".
When they heard Moses had told them to live in booths they went out to cut branches to build them (Nehemiah 8:16) and celebrated and rejoiced (Nehemiah 8:17). Then, on the eighth day, they held a sacred assembly 'ka-mishpat' (they held the assembly 'according to the law') (Nehemiah 8:18).
Shemini Atzeret raises several questions. For example, as stated by non-affiliated site, 'My Jewish Learning',
"Is this its own distinct holiday or part of Sukkot? This confusion led to much debate over whether one should, for example, say Kiddush (prayers)... in the sukkah [on the eighth day as well as during the seven days]".
The rules about Shemini Atzeret are controversial and a single and definite answer for every Israelite to follow is needed. When there is a controversy, it must be taken to the priests and judge as an inquiry and they are to declare the law. This is the official and authorised procedure for the resolution of all Torah questions.
What is a controversy?: https://www.israelalia.com/controversy/ (updated).
'SIMCHAT TORAH'
It has also become the custom on the day after Shemini Atzeret to begin the annual cycle of reading the Torah. This is known as 'Simchat Torah', translated as 'Joy of the Torah'. In the beginning, people would read the entire Torah once every three years. However, that changed to once every one year from the 9th century onwards. The one year approach has been identified as a Babylonian custom (4).
In modern Judaism today, the eighth day (Shemini Atzeret) is marked by the saying of certain prayers and Simchat Torah is celebrated on the ninth day with dancing, singing and 'rejoicing'. As such, significant rejoicing is taking place on the ninth day alone and there is relatively less rejoicing during the seven days of Succot.
Are we supposed to begin a one year cycle of reading the Torah after Shemini Atzeret? Should we rejoice more on the ninth day than the first seven days? It is clearly important that we read the Torah and listen to its laws and this is what the Israelites had been doing in the Book of Nehemiah. How do we resolve Torah controversies such as these?
Deuteronomy 17:8-9: "When there is a controversy within your gates, you shall go to the place that G-d will choose; you shall come to the Levites, the Priests and the Judge": https://www.israelalia.com/deuteronomy-17-8-11/.
1. See also Numbers 29:35.
2. Leviticus 23:36 uses the phrase 'mikrah kodesh', which means 'holy convocation/assembly' as well as the word 'atzeret', which also means assembly.
Atzeret: https://biblehub.com/hebrew/atzeret_6116.htm.
Mikrah: https://biblehub.com/hebrew/mikra_4744.htm.
Mikrah is also used to describe other holidays such as the weekly Shabbat: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/leviticus/23-3.htm.
3. Although useful, IsraelAlia is not officially endorsing the Berean Study Bible (BSB) translation of the bible; it is just for reference purposes.
4. Union for Reform Judaism, 'Sh'mini Atzeret and Simchat Torah - History': https://reformjudaism.org/shmini-atzeret-and-simchat-torah-history.