Shemini Atzeret in Canada

Shemini Atzeret is a Jewish holiday that directly follows the festival of Sukkot and usually falls in September or October. In Canada, as elsewhere, it marks the end of the Sukkot festival period.

History and Traditions

• Origins: The holiday is biblically ordained, with its roots in the Torah (Leviticus 23:36), where it is described as a day of assembly.
• Meaning: "Shemini" means eighth, referring to its position on the eighth day after Sukkot begins, while "Atzeret" is often translated as "assembly" or "holding back," indicating a day for staying one more day to spend time with God after the week of Sukkot.

Observances

• Prayer Services: Shemini Atzeret features special prayer services. In synagogues, there is an inclusion of prayers for rain (Tefilat Geshem), which are significant because they mark the beginning of the rainy season in Israel.
• Yizkor: This is also a time when Yizkor (memorial prayers for deceased relatives) are recited, which holds importance in Jewish communities across Canada.
• Simchat Torah: In Israel, Shemini Atzeret coincides with Simchat Torah. However, outside of Israel, including Canada, Simchat Torah is celebrated on the following day. This celebration marks the completion and recommencement of the annual cycle of readings from the Torah.

What People Do

• Holiday Meals: Families and communities often gather for festive meals during Shemini Atzeret.
• Resting from Work: Many observant Jews refrain from work on this holiday in accordance with traditional laws regarding Jewish festivals.
• Outdoor Activity Abatement: Unlike during Sukkot, there's no requirement to eat meals in a sukkah; hence outdoor activities associated with Sukkot come to an end.

In summary, Shemini Atzeret serves as a solemn yet joyous conclusion to the festive period that begins with Rosh Hashanah and includes Yom Kippur and Sukkot. It provides Canadian Jews an opportunity to gather for prayer, remembrance, and celebration before transitioning back into their routine lives.