…Contents Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah In a Nutshell What Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah Teaches us Today Deep Diving into the Tefillah of the Day: The Hakafot of Simchat Torah Background to the Tefillah Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah for the Young (and Young at Heart!) Top Ten Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah Facts It Once Happened… Chidon on…
This short Dvar Torah from Rabbi Sacks expounds upon the meaning of Shemini Azeret – the eighth day of the festival of Succot. Listen Transcript What exactly is Shemini Atzeret? It seems to be both part of Succot – after all, it’s still zman simchateinu, it’s day eight of Succot – and yet, it has all the signs of being…
…of all: what is the point of living? Listen: Read Transcript > Shemini Atzeret: What is it? In which Rabbi Sacks explains the meaning of the festival of Shemini Atzeret Listen: Read Transcript > Simchat Torah: Why We Dance In which Rabbi Sacks explains why the Jewish People dance with their Torah Scrolls every Simchat Torah. Listen: Read Transcript >…
The parsha of Shemini represents the climax of the long narrative begun in Exodus 25 with the command to construct the Sanctuary. It celebrates the day its service officially began, a momentous day for Bnei Yisrael. But what should have been a joyous occasion turns into tragedy when two of Aaron’s sons die after having brought “strange fire.” The Torah…
“Shemini Atzeret is chamber music, not a symphony. It is quiet time with God. We are reluctant to leave, and we dare to think that He is reluctant to see us go. On Succot we are among strangers and friends. On Shemini Atzeret we are with family.”
“For Jews, the response to antisemitism must be to fight it but never to internalise it or accept it on its own terms.” FIND MORE RESOURCES ON ANTISEMITISM Explore the life and work of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks Discover articles, videos, books, commentary, and educational resources from an international faith leader, ambassador for Judaism and Jewish values, respected moral philosopher,…
Excavating the history of words can sometimes be as revealing as excavating the ruins of an ancient city. Take the English word “enthusiasm”. Today we see this as something positive. One dictionary defines it as “a feeling of energetic interest in a particular subject or activity and an eagerness to be involved in it.” People with enthusiasm have passion, zest…
Shemini tells the tragic story of how the great inauguration of the Tabernacle, a day about which the Sages said that God rejoiced as much as He had at the creation of the universe, was overshadowed by the death of two of Aaron’s sons, Nadav and Avihu: “Aaron’s sons Nadav and Avihu took their censers, put fire in them and…
…Torah Trivia Question: Can you find four pairs of brothers who appear in parshat Shemini? This question has been adapted from Torah IQ by David Woolf, a collection of 1500 Torah riddles, available worldwide on Amazon. For the answer, please head to the Education Companion section (directly below, in grey). Educational Companion Torah Trivia: this week’s answer The four pairs…