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Breisheet | Shmot | Vayikra | Bamidbar | Devarim| Holidays and Special Shabbatot

Parshat Emor teaches us about the
different Biblical holidays that we observe throughout the year.

This year, in the aftermath of
October 7, the holiday that specifically stands out when reading the parsha is
Shmini Atzeret (Vayikra 23:34-36):

…On the fifteenth day of the seventh
month is the holiday of Sukkot, for seven days, for God. On the first day there
shall be a holy assembly; you shall not do any work or labor. For seven days,
you shall bring a fire offering to God; the eighth day shall be a holy
assembly, and you shall bring a fire offering to God. It is a day of assembly
(Atzeret), you shall not do any work or labor.

Rashi comments that the reason that the holiday is called Atzeret
(holding back) is because God wants to hold on to the Jewish people for one
more day:

I have kept you with me, like a king who invited his children for a
feast for a certain number of days, when the time came for them to leave, he
said:
My children, I beg of you, remain with me one more day; your leaving is
difficult for me.”

Rashi’s comment is based on the Talmud, Sotah 55b which speaks about the
seventy bulls that were sacrificed in decreasing order on the holiday of Sukkot
which correspond to the seventy nations of the world. In contrast, on Shmini
Atzeret, only one bull was sacrificed which corresponds to the singular nation,
Israel. On Shmini Atzeret, God wanted to have a small intimate banquet with
just His immediate family.

Shmini Atzeret is a totally separate holiday from Sukkot. The sacrifices
are different, we no longer sit in the Sukkah and we don’t bless the Lulav and
Etrog.

Why is Shmini Atzeret tacked onto Sukkot specifically?

Chizkuni brings a parable from the Bechor Shor about a king who asked
his children when they would be returning. The first child said that he would
return in 50 days so the king sent him on his way, happy that his son would be returning
soon. The second child said that he would return in 4 months so the king sent
him on his way, content that his son wouldn’t be gone for too long. The third
child said that he would be returning in seven months so they king asked him to
stay one more day so that he could enjoy being with him a drop more before he
goes away for a long absence.

We learn from here that Pesach doesn’t need to be extended because 50
days later we are already returning for Shavuot. Shavuot doesn’t need to be
extended as 4 months later we are returning for Sukkot. In contrast, since there
are seven months between Sukkot and Pesach and there are no Biblical holidays
due to the rainy season, we want to hold on to the holiday for just a little
bit longer.

Ibn Ezra explains that the word “Atzeret” can be understood in the
context of Shmuel Alef 21:8:  “One of
Shaul’s servants had been detained before God.” He was not involved in any
worldly affairs.

Sforno explains that “Atzira” is not just “Lishbot”, stopping from doing
mundane work. Atzira is about time standing still for holy reasons- Torah
study, prayer and service. The day following Sukkot, after all three of the
Regalim (Pilgrimage festivals) have been celebrated is sanctified to be called “Atzeret”,
where the Jewish people are detained in the holy place (Jerusalem) for another
day and their happiness will be the joy of Torah and good deeds as it says in
Tehillim 149:2: “Israel rejoices in its Maker.”

Although in other years most people did not pay attention to the fact
that there are seven months between Sukkot and Pesach, this year, due to the
hostage situation, we are much more conscious of how much time has gone by.

Even in the Bechor Shor’s parable, seven months was looked at as a very
long time to be away from home.

Many of us feel that we are still detained in Shmini Atzeret which fell
on October 7th and since then every day has felt like Yom HaZikaron
(Memorial Day for the fallen soldiers and those who have been murdered in
terrorist attacks).

However, the hope is that by Shmini Atzeret which will not fall on
October 7 this year, we will have the hostages back, there will be safety and
security in Israel and we will be able to turn the day back into Simchat Torah,
a day of joy to celebrate spirituality while being safely protected by our
soldiers.

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