Tonight begins one of the most unusual holidays of our religion. It is the last one that bars me from working until April or so. (Good. Now, I can make some money!) The bible gives us very little clue about this holiday. It’s called the Eighth Day of Assembly (Shmini Atzeret in Hebrew).
Continue reading Shmini Atzeret
Tomorrow night begins the 7th day of Sukot- and it has a special name- Hoshana Raba. It’s kind of like a mini-Yom Kipur. During the morning services, we destroy the willow branches that are part of the Lulav and Etrog (see the picture below) we’ve employed during this seven day festival. We either do this because it was part of the rain-bringing rituals that existed centuries ago- or to remind us of repentance. (The origin of the practice is simply not clear to us today.) This day marks the period of atonement and introspection that we began some 50 days ago when the new moon (month) of Elul rolled around.
Continue reading Hoshana Raba. Shmini Atzeret. What’s that, you ask?
Tonight begins a most unusual holiday. More importantly, from a practical point of view, this holiday is the last one that will preclude me from work for a while- all the way until late March of the coming year! (Now, this is really good news. Because, I can finally make some money!) The Tora gives us very little clue about this holiday or its requirements. It’s simply called the Eighth Day of Assembly (Shmini Atzeret).
Continue reading The last holiday for a while
Tonight (this should automatically post around 6 pm on Sunday night) started a most unusual holiday. This is the last one that requires me not to work until April. (Good. Now, I can make some money!) The bible gives us very little clue about this holiday. It’s called the Eighth Day of Assembly (Shmini Atzeret, שמיני עצרת).
Continue reading 8 days (not a week)
This evening marks the start of a most unusual holiday. From my point of view, it’s pretty cool- because it means this season of almost endless holiday’s ends- until April. (Whew! Now, I can finally be making some money!)
Continue reading Another one- the last for a while
Last night was the 7th day of Sukot- but it has a special name- Hoshana Raba. Kind of like a mini-Yom Kipur. During services, we destroy the willow branches that are part of the Lulav and Etrog (see the picture below) we’ve employed during this seven day festival. We either do this because it was part of the rain-bringing rituals that existed centuries ago- or to remind us of repentance. (The origin of the practice is simply not clear to us today.)
Continue reading Stop? Assembly? Who knows….
Tomorrow night is the 7th day of Sukot. It’s called Hoshana Raba. Kind of like a mini-Yom Kipur. During services, we destroy the willow branches that are part of the Lulav and Etrog (see the picture below) we’ve employed during this holiday. We either do this because it was part of the rain bringing rituals that existed centuries ago- or to remind us of repentance. (The origin of the practice is simply not clear to us today.)
Continue reading The last time- until April 10th
Tonight is the start of a most unusual holiday. This is the last one that will preclude me from work for a while- all the way until April! (Now, this is really good news. Because, I can make some money!) The Tora gives us very little clue about this holiday and its requirements. It’s simply called the Eighth Day of Assembly (Shmini Atzeret).
Continue reading The 8th Day of Celebration
In honor of the festival of Shmini Atzeret (and Simchat Tora), we are prohibited from working.
