Shemini Atzeret 40 articles

All Jewish holidays and observances, with the exception of some fasts, begin on the evening previous to the first day. Except as noted, all require special additional prayers and services are...

We were given the commandment to take the Lulav and Etrog so that we would have a reminder during Sukkot that the happiness we feel on the holiday is to be directed...

Throughout Sukkot, special offerings were brought on the Altar in the Temple. Our Sages have taught us that the 70 special bull sacrifices brought on Sukkot were for the benefit of...

This shiur provided courtesy of The Tanach Study Center In memory of Rabbi Abraham Leibtag Is ‘eight’ a magic number in Sefer Vayikra? Or, is it only coincidental that: In Parshat...

To what extent does one “live in” the Sukkah on Shmini Atzeret? There are a variety of customs in connection with the degree to which the Sukkah is “lived in” on...

How do Jews pray for wind and rain? Actually, we are not ready at this point in the season to request rain; it is a bit early, and the “olai regel,”...

What is “Tefilat Geshem”? There are three items in the Jewish Liturgy which have been called “Prayers for Rain.” Two of these are really more accurately described as: The annual introduction...

The name “Atzeret” is actually used most in the Talmud to refer to the holiday of Shavuot. Shavuot can be seen as the “completion” of Pesach – for Pesach, commemorating the...

The holiday of Simchat Torah is a great invention of the Jewish People in their Exile. It celebrates the completion of and the beginning of the “Reading of the Torah.” Since...

Shmini Atzeret is the holiday which is celebrated on the eighth day counting from the beginning of “Sukkot.” In Israel, it is celebrated for one day, which is a combination of...