Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot ... one more big weekend to go. After the incredible crowds, the moving liturgy, the beauty of the Sukkah - the end days of the Fall holidays are weird. Shemini Atzeret, this Shabbat, is this strange day. No more lulav/etrog. Sukkah is optional. Instead we have Kohelet - the Book of Ecclesiastes, Yizkor - the Memorial Service and Geshem - the prayer for rain in Israel. It's kind of serious again, like Yom Kippur, but not so much about our sins - more about our values and our journey. It's a reflection on our quest for meaning in life, in the life of our loved ones and in the life of our community. The rabbis say: after all the pageantry and festivities of Sukkot - the 8th Day is quiet, just those who worship and God enjoying (in many communities) a last day of Fall Holidays.
But for traditional synagogues outside of Israel there is one final celebration: Simchat Torah. After nearly a month of holidays - we party! Finishing the Five Books of Moses and starting over again is for those who experience the cycle filled with joy. We have been privileged to study God's words and to infuse them into our life this past year. And now we will start again - the never ending cycle of listening to the Divine word, culling its values and practices, and living them ever day. It's good to sing and dance with the Torah celebrating our faith, our love and our truth. Hag Sameach...
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I loved the Simchat Torah service and was surprised there weren't more people. You'd think they'd come for the booze...I mean the singing and dancing.
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