| Although the name of the holiday would seem
to indicate that it is not a separate holiday, but just the
‘Shemini" the eighth day, the Talmud says it is a separate holiday
regarding 6 matters known by it’s acrostic as PeZeR KeSHeB. P. (Payas)
They start new lots to determine which Priestly group gets to offer the
sacrifices. Z. We say Shehchiyanu (Zeman) in kiddush for Shmini Atzeret,
and in the Diaspora, on Simchat Torah eve as well. R. (Regel) This holiday
counts as 7 days when calculating the 30 days of mourning for a loved one.
Rashi says it is a separate holiday (Regel) in that we do not sit in the
Succah on this day. However, in the Diaspora we do sit in the Succah on
Shmini Atzeret, though not on Simchat Torah. If it were really part of
Succoth, we would sit in the Succah. K.
(Korban) It has its own sacrifices or Korbanot. All 7
days of Succoth the sacrifices are similar. On this day, the sacrifices
have no relationship to what was offered earlier. Sh. (Shira) Every day
has a special song offered by the Levites. We call it the Psalm of the
day, or the song of the day. Each day of the week has a song, and each
holiday has a song. The song of Shmini Atzeret (Psalm 6, a prayerful song
which mentions the 8 string harp ) is not the same as the songs of Succoth
(Ps. 76 which speaks of the world recognizing Israel). B. (Bracha) When we
say blessings, benching, and Amidah, we refer not to Succoth but to Shmini
Atzeret. All in all, Shmini Atzeret stands on its own as a day of pure
prayer, worship of G-d, and dedication to the Torah. It is the culmination
of all the holidays. |
