This coming Shabbat, we observe the festival of Shmini Atzeret, probably the least known or observed holiday on our calendar. It lacks the intensity of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It lacks the joy of Sukkot, and the singing and dancing of Simchat Torah. Chanukah gets more play at home, and Purim is perhaps the most fun-filled day of the year. Pesach is a time for serious storytelling and eating. Shavuot gets a bit more notice because of its link to Sinai.
If you ask 100 Jews what Shmini Atzeret is about, I’m guessing that perhaps 1 in 100 will actually know. A couple will probably say that it somehow is tied to the end of Sukkot. Some may know that many Jews (those in Israel and many Reform Jews) celebrate Shmini Atzeret on the same day as Simchat Torah. Some may know that the day before (this year, Friday) is the last day of Sukkot, called Hoshanah Rabbah, which is not really a holiday at all, but is a day for special prayers, and the last day we are obligated to sit in the sukkah.
One meaning of “Atzeret” is “assembly,” from the Hebrew root meaning to gather together. Rashi tells us that the holiday demonstrates God’s reluctance for us to depart from His Presence which began on Rosh Hashanah.
This year, I focus on the meaning of assembly. We were, for the most part, unable to “assemble” together in any traditional sense. Some scattered few were able to attend socially distanced services, and others watched synagogue services through streaming.
I wanted to make a special mention of my friends of many decades, Neal Meiselman and his wife Terry, who have organized what we call the “Accidental Chavurah” using Zoom, at first every Shabbat, and once our congregation began streaming, occasionally for services. But on all occasions, we enjoyed a “JFK” (just for kiddush), when we have virtual conversations with friends and acquaintances, sometimes theme-based and other times just keeping tabs on each other. Neal and Terry always ask us not to thank them, but Todah Rabbah to both of them.
On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we divided our on-line experience between the congregation’s stream and our own Zoom, with participants of our “chavurah” taking major and minor roles in our virtual service. Neal’s recitation of Unitanef Tokef was incredibly stirring, given that we wonder more now than at other times “who will live and who will die.” It was wonderful to hear the youngest leading Ein Kelohenu or Ashrei. Reciting Yizkor and saying kaddish together in our “Accidental Chavurah” was memorable and meaningful.
As we come to the conclusion of this run of holidays, I give thanks that we have had the ability to form and maintain our “assembly” together, and hope that we can assemble together soon, person to person, praying together as we have always done. Bimhera biyamenu (May it be immediately in our days).
