Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
Tishri 22, the day after the seventh day of Sukkot, is the holiday Shemini Atzeret. In Israel, Shemini Atzeret is also the holiday of Simchat Torah. Outside of Israel, where extra days of holidays are held, only the second day of Shemini Atzeret is Simchat Torah. These two holidays are commonly thought of as part of Sukkot, but that is technically incorrect; Shemini Atzeret is a holiday in its own right and does not involve the special observances of Sukkot.
Shemini Atzeret literally means “the assembly of the eighth (day).” Rabbinic literature explains the holiday this way: G-d is like a host, who invites us as visitors for a limited time, but when the time comes for us to leave, He has enjoyed himself so much that He asks us to stay another day.
The annual cycle of weekly Torah readings is completed at this time. We read the last Torah portion, then proceed immediately to the first chapter of Genesis, reminding us that the Torah is a circle, and never ends. This completion of the readings is a time of great celebration. There are processions around the synagogue carrying the Torah around the bema or synagogue 7 times with high spirits and dancing. As many people as possible are given the honor of carrying a Torah scroll in these processions. This aspect of the holiday is known as Simchat Torah, which means “Rejoicing in the Torah.”
Where did the idea of reading 54 portions a year originate? The first mention of the cycle is found in Deuteronomy where Moshe instructs the tribe of Levi and the elders of Israel to gather all the people for a public reading from portions of the Torah once every seven years. The need to read the Torah publicly grew with the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE when Jews were dispersed to other parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe.
A reference in the Mishnah (the first codification of Jewish custom and law written in the 3rd century C.E.) supported the scripture in Deuteronomy regarding reading the Torah in public and this custom continued on special occasions.
But it wasn’t until the Talmudic era, about the 6th century C.E that Jews living in Israel began to read the Torah in Public until the Five Books of Moses were completed. At that time, it took three years to complete the cycle. This pattern was known as the Palestinian Triennial.
However, the Jews in Babylon followed a different custom that was established by the beginning of the 7th century C.E. completing the cycle annually reading 54 weekly portions (parshiyot or parashot). Because the number or parshiyot exceeds the number of weeks in a given year, more than one portion is read during certain weeks.
Again, this is a joyous occasion celebrating another year of having the privilege of reading the Torah. Being immersed in the Torah is a pure joy for true believers. More than that, we look forward to another year of reading it and learning more than the year before. The daily study of Torah will go on as long as there are true believers. But more significantly, the Living Torah, Yahshua HaMashiach will go on forever. If we want to know Him, we must read Him for He is the Word, the Torah. We must approach our study of His Torah as a genetic code as it holds the secret to eternal life if we study, learn, and follow it. What a privilege we have been given by HaTorah, Yahshua, YHVH Elohim.
Shalom v’brachas,
Rabbi Tamah Davis-Hart