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We are approaching the homestretch, the final 2 days of this string of holidays. Each holiday has it's own personality, it's own concepts and ideas, it's own קדושת היום Kedushat Hayom –distinctive holiness. Though it might seem similar, שמיני עצרת Shemini Atzeret –the 8th day is not part of the holiday of sukkot. As we see reflected in the formulation of our prayer services, it is no longer חג הסוכות Chag HaSukkot –the holiday of sukkot but יום שמיני חג העצרת הזה –the 8th day the holiday of Atzeret. It is a different holiday, and it too has it's own unique identity. But this identity is hard to pinpoint. We have no mitzvah like Matzah or Lulav to guide us. What is the identity, the קדושת היום -distinctive holiness, and the meaning of עצרת Atzeret?

The Torah in פרשת אמור has a brief description:

ויקרא כג:לו

שִׁבְעַת יָמִים תַּקְרִיבוּ אִשֶּׁה לַיקֹוָק בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי מִקְרָא־קֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם וְהִקְרַבְתֶּם אִשֶּׁה לַיקֹוָק עֲצֶרֶת הִוא כָּל־מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ

Seven days you will bring an offering to God, and on the 8th day it will be a distinctive holiday for you, and you will be an offering to God. It is an Atzeret, all work you will not do.

The word עצרת Atzeret is probably best translated as a pause. Rashi (based on the מדרש רבה) helps us understand this further:

 רש"י ויקרא פרשת אמור פרק כג:לו

עצרת הוא - עצרתי אתכם אצלי כמלך שזימן את בניו לסעודה לכך וכך ימים, כיון שהגיע זמנן להפטר אמר בני בבקשה מכם, עכבו עמי עוד יום אחד, קשה עלי פרידתכם

It is a pause - I stopped you while you were with me, like a king that invites his children to a mean for a specified amount of time. Once they reached the time for them to depart, he said, “my children, I ask you to please stay with me one more day. Your departure is difficult for me.

What is this analogy with a king and his sons? What relevance does this have to understanding the holiday of Shemini Atzeret?

I would like to attempt to translate an aspect of Rashi's משל –parable into a slightly more modern analogy:

Imagine taking a weeklong vacation somewhere remote. After spending a week in a new place, developing new routines, engaging in new activities, it’s almost like you’re a different person. You’re reading more, taking the time to savor your morning cup of coffee, you’re enjoying different aspects of life than usual. It’s finally time to go, and you’re a bit conflicted about getting back to the daily routine. As you begin to pack up, you stop. You pause, look around, reflect on the wonderful time you have had. Almost on whim, you make the decision to spend one more day on vacation. Not to do anything in particular, you don’t plan any specific activities, but just to spend one more day in vacation mode, to crystalize the experience, and internalize it, before you return to the hustle and bustle of every day life. Perhaps even to try and take some of it with you.

This is the idea of עצרת Atzeret, taking a pause. Taking extra time to savor the moment, to take it all in. It’s been an intense few weeks. Experientially, probably the most intense period of the Jewish calendar. We’ve hopefully gained new insight, emerged as new people, had an opportunity to rejoice in our renewed relationship with Torah and God. Indeed it is a privilege to have a moment to step back, push day-to-day life back for one last moment, and rejoice and delight in this wonderful day.

That may be the meaning of Rashi's parable. God is the King, and we've had a unique opportunity to spend time these last weeks לפני השם Lifnei Hashem –before God, with God's presence closer than usual, playing a more prominent in our lives. It is the special ideas, concepts, and experiences of these special days that are still in our minds eye. Part of שמיני עצרת Shemini Atzeret –a pause on the 8th day, is about taking a moment to reflect on these ideas and experiences while they are fresh in our mind, with the hope that we can bring some of this with us into our year ahead.

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