Shimini Atzeret marks the end of the
season of our Yomim Tovim. The season began with the Yimai HaSlichot,
Rosh HaShanah, the Aseret Yimai Teshuva and Yom Kippur. It continued
with Succot and Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. The literal
meaning of Atzeret is "restraint."
There are various interpretations
as to why this term, implying restraint, was chosen here. One
possibility behind using the term Atzeret or restraint here, refers
to holding on to the spiritual joy and holiness achieved during the
past month. There is a great risk that once the holidays are behind
us and we return to our daily lives, we may become so absorbed in
those activities that we dissipate all the spiritual wealth we had
acquired during the Yomim Tovim.
If one tightly seals a bottle of
expensive wine, it will save the aroma and the quality will be
preserved. So too, when taking in the end of Yom Tov, we should make
these last days of Yom Tov into an Atzeret a tight seal that will
retain all that we have accomplished during Tishrei. Just as it is
foolish to earn and not to conserve, so too it would be foolish to
achieve spirituality and not to retain it. The truth is, however,
that Shimini Atzeret isn't just the end of the Tishrei season of
Yomim Tovim. It actually concludes an entire year of the Yomim Tovim.
Pesach actually begins the cycle, followed by Shavout. Succot and
Shmini Atzeret (Simchat Torah) complete the years' cycle of Yomim
Tovim. There is a well known story in the Gemorah in Shabbos (31a)
regarding the potential ger (convert) who came to Hillel and asked
him to convert him while he stood "al regel achas" - on one foot.
There have been several interpretations to this story in the Gemorah.
The Sfas Emes suggests an interpretation as follows: This searching
individual understood and appreciated that each and every Yom Tov
experience is part of a process of growth that we are offered each
and every year. It would also seem that the highlight of that
process would come at the very end, at the final leg of the journey.
This being so, the ger sought a way to
skip the earlier Yomim Tovim and attempted to achieve all the
spiritual greatness found in Shmini Atzeret without the aid of the
other Yomim Tovim. Try to teach me "al regel achas" while standing
on one regel. One holiday should suffice, if we go right to the top.
Hillel responded that it was a process that necessitated each step
in the process in order to conserve it and retain it. Trying to
achieve the dveikus (attachment) that comes with Simchas Torah,
without first building the foundation of that relationship will
often end in great failure. "Al regel achas" is not how one achieves
success and growth in spirit and commitment. Now, as Yom Tov comes
to an end, we all would like to hold on to a little of the aroma of
Yom Tov. Each and every one of us has to find the right formula that
works for us. One possible way to achieve some level of continuity
from Yom Tov is to try to enhance our homes with something new and
meaningful. Beginning Sefer Bereishit again allows us the
opportunity to learn together, particularly on Shabbat. How about
assigning different members of the family an interesting question,
insight, medresh or story, at their particular level, to bring to
the Shabbat meal? What about trying to study the Parsha each week,
Shnayim Mikra V'Echud Targum, which gives a great connection and
appreciation to each parsha. As the winter creeps up on us, let's
prepare to hold on to some of the warmth of Yom Tov, and to reignite
Limud HaTorah in our homes, both individually and collectively.
