Today is Sh’mini Atzeret.
Although Sukkot is only celebrated for seven days, the Book of Leviticus ordains an eighth day as a day of assembly: “Mark, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered the yield of the earth, you shall celebrate a festival of Adonai for seven days, with complete rest on the first day and on the eighth day” (Lev 23:39).
The day is not mentioned at all within the Book of Deuteronomy, which describes Sukkot as a seven-day holiday without mentioning any subsequent observance. Nor does Leviticus provide information regarding the rituals to be observed during the day other than rest, assembly (atzeret), and sacrifice. The day is mentioned in the first book of Kings, as well as Nehemiah, but in each instance, we only learn that, “an assembly— atzeret” was held on the eighth day.
Though atzeret means gathering or assembly, the famous Medieval commentator, Rashi, reminds us that it also contains the Hebrew root atzor, meaning “linger”. Rashi then tells a parable of a king who invited his children to a several-day banquet. As they prepare to leave, he says, “Children, I beg of you, stay one more day!”
According to this teaching, the day of atzeret is nothing more than a means to allow the joy of the fall harvest festival linger a bit longer, by calling upon the People to assemble once more, following their festivities, as an indication to allow their season of joy to linger into their year. Just because Sukkot is ending doesn’t mean that the spirit of the festival must vanish.
Throughout the Days of Awe, I spoke with many congregants who expressed unfettered joy at the opportunity to visit their spiritual home and reconnect with friends they hadn’t seen, in many cases, since their last High Holy Days. Atzeret reminds us that the spirit of interconnectedness we felt—with our own spirits and with one another—can linger into the year, if we take measures to allow it. Now is the time to reach out to the friends and acquaintances we were so glad to see and make plans to see them again. Now is the time to circle our next Shabbat service on the calendar, so that the unfettered joy and interconnectedness we felt may endure throughout the year.
— Rabbi Josh Knobel