Page 32 - HaMizrachi # 23 Sukkot Simchat Torah 2020 USA

HOLIDAY READING

Rabbanit Sally Mayer

Why the Eighth Day?

ow many days is Sukkot? The one bull, symbolizes G-d’s asking His more prominently on Shemini Atzeret.
Torah describes it as a seven– beloved nation for just a small meal If Shemini Atzeret is a holiday purely
Hday holiday (Vayikra 23, Bam- to enjoy. The Midrash in Bamidbar for the Jewish people, after the univer-
idbar 29, Devarim 16), and yet the Rabbah slightly modifies this: G-d is sal holiday of Sukkot, we can under-
pesukim add an eighth day as an ת ֶ ר ֶ צ ֲ ע, like a king who invites all his subjects stand why it warrants its own she-
literally “stopping” or “gathering.” to a seven-day feast, and afterward hecheyanu. However, as Rashi writes,
What is the nature of this eighth day? says to his most beloved servant, “Let if Shemini Atzeret is an added day to
Why is Sukkot described as lasting us enjoy whatever you can find, a bit of Sukkot, just to stay a bit longer, why
seven days, if it actually lasts eight? meat, fish, or vegetables.” According to is that considered a new holiday? Isn’t
this idea, Sukkot is a universal holiday it just a continuation of the previous
Indeed, Talmudic Sages debate while Shemini Atzeret is only for the
whether we say the beracha of she- Jewish people. A modest holiday just seven days?
hecheyanu on Shemini Atzeret to celebrate G-d’s special relationship Perhaps the nature of Shemini Atzeret
(Sukkah 47b). The Gemara concludes with His beloved people. is exactly that. It’s a day that celebrates
we do say it because Shemini Atzeret our unique, emotional relationship with
is considered its own holiday in several Rashi (Vayikra 23:36) cites the follow- G-d, in that He loves us and does not
different respects. ing: “I have stopped you with Me, like want to see us go. It actually is a sepa-
a king who invited his sons to a meal
In Pesikta deRav Kahana (28), Rav Alex- for a certain number of days. When the rate day – a day that celebrates our close
andri says that by using extra letters in time came to part, he asked his children, bond with G-d as His chosen, beloved
the pesukim regarding the sacrifices of ‘Please stay with me one more day, ה ֶ ׁש ָ ק people. ם ֶ כ ְ ת ַ ד ֵ ר ְּ פ י ַ ל ָ ע ה ֶ ׁש ָ ק highlights a dif-
each day of Sukkot, G-d hints to Am ם ֶ כ ְ ת ַ ד ֵ ר ְּ פ י ַ ל ָ ע – your departure is difficult ferent quality to our relationship with
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Yisrael to pray for rain. After Sukkot for me.’” All of Sukkot is a holiday for G-d, one not previously emphasized.
passes and we still have not taken the G-d to enjoy with His children, the Hence it does not simply add a day to
hint, G-d gives us a whole day just to Jewish people. But as we find when we Sukkot, but creates a unique day, one
pray for rain. The special prayer for rain, say goodbye to our own children, it’s that deserves its own shehecheyanu, so
ם ֶ ׁש ֶּג ַ ה ת ַּ ל ִ פ ְּ ת, is in fact recited on Shemini hard to see them go – so Hashem adds we can focus on feeling that closeness
Atzeret. According to this view, Shemini Shemini Atzeret because it’s so difficult to G-d, which will keep us going in the
Atzeret amplifies a theme latent during for Him to see us go after Sukkot. winter months ahead.
Sukkot, and that theme moves to center
stage on the eighth day. Let us now return to our original
question as debated by the Amoraim:
What are the Sukkot sacrifices? On Should we recite shehecheyanu on 1 In Bamidbar 29:29, 33, there are three words
the Midrash identifies as having extra letters:
each day, we offer bulls on the miz- Shemini Atzeret or not? If its main םטפשמכ ,היכסנו ,םהיכסנו. Those extra letters
beach — 13 on the first day, 12 on theme is to pray for rain – which we spell מ-י-מ, water.
the second, 11 on the third, and so theoretically should have done on
on. But then the pattern breaks – we Sukkot – it is debatable whether it
offer seven bulls on the seventh day warrants its own shehecheyanu. One
of Sukkot, but just one on Shemini could argue that no new blessing is
Atzeret. Why? Rabbi Elazar explains necessary, since rain is a theme that
that the 70 bulls offered over Sukkot exists on Sukkot through the pouring
correspond to the 70 nations of the of the water on the altar and the hints Rabbanit Sally Mayer serves as Rosh
world, one offered on behalf of each to pray for rain throughout those days. Midrasha at Ohr Torah Stone’s Midreshet
nation. Shemini Atzeret’s sacrifice, of On the other hand, rain is emphasized Lindenbaum.

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