Simchat Torah/Shemini Atzeret 5778

Simchat Torah/Shemini Atzeret: Chag Sameach! Tishrei 21, 5778/October 11, 2017 The seventh day of Sukkot, known as Hoshana Rabba, is the climax of Sukkot, and in many ways, the climax of the entire seven week period of intense introspection and spiritual 'body-building' that begins on Rosh Chodesh, the first day of Elul, reaches its first climax on Rosh HaShana, (the first and second day of Tishrei), attains its second pinnacle on Yom Kippur, (the tenth of Tishrei), and reaches its final, crucial, crescendo on Hoshana Rabba, before transforming into the joyful, triumphant celebration of Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah, the final day of our spiritual journey, at which point we are ready to meet the new year head on and heart on, new and improved versions of ourselves, by virtue of our own hard work and intensive spiritual efforts. On Rosh HaShana we write our names into the Book of Life, on Yom Kippur our prayers seal the book, and on Hoshana Rabba the sealed book is delivered to G-d. This special delivery is the reason for the intense prayers and heightened spirits and anticipation which sweep us up on Hoshana Rabba. For seven weeks, akin to the seven week period of the counting of the Omer, between Passover and Shavuot, we are recreating who we are, which is nothing less than joining G-d in recreating the entire world anew. On Rosh HaShana we recognize G-d as our King. On Yom Kippur we pray for the entire congregation of Israel to draw near to G-d in a spirit of conciliation and renewal. Throughout the seven days of Sukkot offerings are made on the Temple altar on behalf of all the nations. A new world full of recharged souls demands a clean sweep, and that requires intensive supplication on behalf of all mankind. This supplication was at the heart of the Simchat Beit HaShoeva, the Water Libation Ceremony which was celebrated each day of Sukkot, from the second day through the seventh. The ceremony, which began each dawn at the Shiloach spring deep in the heart of the City of David, culminated in water and wine libations on the Temple altar, accompanied by circuits around the altar made by worshipers holding the arba minim, the four species we are commanded to clutch together throughout the Sukkot festival, the etrog, the lulav, hadas and aravot, (citroen, palm frond, myrtle and willow). Today, the Simchat Beit HaShoeva is observed by joyful gatherings with music and Torah study, by re-enactments of the Temple ceremony, (as occurred this past Sunday), and by the daily Hoshana prayers which reach their grand finale in the Hoshana Rabba (the Great Hoshana), on the seventh day of Sukkot. On Hoshana Rabba we don't hold back, as we ask G-d for all good blessings, for health, for sustenance, for redemption, for peace, for ourselves, for our children and grandchildren, for all mankind. The ultimate blessing which we ask of G-d is the blessing of rain, without which all of the above blessings are not possible. On Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah these requests for rain are translated into a formal prayer for the blessed rains, a prayer which we shall continue to utter daily throughout the upcoming winter, concluding only on the first day of Passover, which heralds the opening of the spring season in Israel. On Simchat Torah, flush with the exhilaration of the past seven weeks, we embrace the Torah, the sum and substance of our lives, our identity, of who we are. Midrash tells us that even G-d consulted Torah before creating our world. Having spent the last seven weeks recreating, with G-d, our world anew, it is with the Torah that we dance and celebrate as we take our first steps into the great year ahead. We read the final chapters of the book of Deuteronomy, in which Moshe blesses his people, takes one final look into the land of Israel and passes from this world. We, too, pass from our old world and into our new world, beginning by reading the opening verses of Genesis, the six days of creation and the holy Shabbat. And then we dance some more! Chag Sameach! A new year and a new world await us! -The Temple Institute