RABBI DAVID ETENGOFF: PARASHAT HASHAVUAH
  • Blog: Rabbi David Etengoff: Parashat HaShavuah
  • Sefer Bereishit 5784&5785
  • Sefer Shemot 5784&5785
  • Sefer Vayikra 5784&5785
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5784 &5785
  • Sefer Devarim 5784&5785
  • Sefer Bereishit 5782&5783
  • Sefer Shemot 5782&5783
  • Sefer Vayikra 5782&5783
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5782&5783
  • Sefer Devarim 5782&5783
  • Sefer Bereishit 5780& 5781
  • Sefer Shemot 5780&5781
  • Sefer Vayikra 5780&5781
  • Sefer Bamidbar 578&5781
  • Sefer Devarim 578&5781
  • Sefer Bereishit 5778&5779
  • Sefer Shemot 5778&5779
  • Sefer Vayikra 5778&5779
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5778&5779
  • Sefer Devarim 5778&5779
  • Sefer Bereishit 5776&5777
  • Sefer Bereishit 5774&5775
  • Sefer Bereishit 5772&5773
  • Sefer Bereishit 5771&5770
  • Sefer Shemot 5776&5777
  • Sefer Shemot 5774&5775
  • Sefer Shemot 5772&5773
  • Sefer Shemot 5771&5770
  • Sefer Vayikra 5776&5777
  • Sefer Vayikra 5774&5775
  • Sefer Vayikra 5772&5773
  • Sefer Vayikra 5771&5770
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5776&5777
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5774&5775
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5772&5773
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5771&5770
  • Sefer Devarim 5776&5777
  • Sefer Devarim 5774&5775
  • Sefer Devarim 5772&5773
  • Sefer Devarim 5771&5770

10/8/2017

​Shemini Atzeret - Simchat Torah 5778, 2017: "Shemini Atzeret and Hashem’s Love"

2 Comments

Read Now
 
Picture

 
Rabbi David Etengoff
 
Dedicated to the sacred memories of my mother, Miriam Tovah bat Aharon Hakohen, father-in-law, Levi ben Yitzhak, sister-in-law, Ruchama Rivka Sondra bat Yechiel, sister, Shulamit bat Menachem, Chaim Mordechai Hakohen ben Natan Yitzchak, Yehonatan Binyamin ben Mordechai Meir Halevi, Avraham Yechezkel ben Yaakov Halevy, Shayna Yehudit bat Avraham Manes and Rivka, the refuah shlaimah of Shoshana Elka bat Etel Dina, Devorah bat Chana, Chaya Mindel bat Leah Basha and Yitzhak Akiva ben Malka, and the safety of our brothers and sisters in Israel and around the world.
 
Shemini Atzeret occurs at the end of Succot. As Midrash Bereshit Rabbah notes, however, it is a chag bifnei atzmo (festival in its own right), rather than a part of Succot. (100:7) This is clearly indicated in the Torah’s introduction to the unique sacrifice for this day, wherein the following formulation is found: “The eighth day shall be a restriction for you; you shall not do any laborious work.” (Bamidbar 29:35, translation, Artscroll Chumash). This verse stands in stark contrast to the preceding pasukim (verses) that refer to the Intermediate Days of Succot (Chol HaMoed) and, therefore, deploy the expression, “And on day…,” indicating they are a continuation of the first day of the festival.
 
In Sefer Vayikra 23:36 and Sefer Bamidbar 29:35, the term, “the eighth day,” is coupled with the expression “Atzeret.” Rashi (1040-1105), in his gloss on our verse from Sefer Vayikra, provides us with a particularly famous and fascinating metaphoric explication of the term “Atzeret” that is partially based upon Talmud Bavli, Succah 55b:

[What does “Atzeret” mean?] I [Hashem] will keep you back with Me [one more day]. This is similar to the case of a king who invited his children to a banquet for a certain number of days. When the time arrived for them to take their leave he said: “My children, I beg of you, stay one more day with me; your departure is so difficult for me!”
 
Rashi is homiletically teaching us a profound lesson: Hakadosh Baruch Hu (the Holy One Blessed be He) passionately loves us. Moreover, like the earthly king, the King of Kings has just “spent” a number of days with us wherein we have dedicated ourselves to His service. We have rejoiced in our succot, and sung Hallel with our lulav and etrog. We have had beautiful festive meals and inspiring tefilot (prayers). Yet, our Creator wants more of us. He wants to rejoice with us one day more in order to strengthen the unique bond that exists between us.
 
We do not have to wait, however, for the arrival of Shemini Atzeret to feel Hashem’s love surrounding us. If we are sensitive to the daily words of the tefilot, and carefully concentrate upon their sublime meaning, we can readily hear the message of G-d’s powerful devotion to us. The first morning tefilah that we encounter that explicitly describes Hashem’s affection for us is that of the second bracha (blessing) prior to the recitation of the Shema. It begins with the words “Ahavah rabbah,” and states: “With an abundant love have You loved us, Hashem, our G-d…” It concludes with: “Blessed are You Hashem, Who chooses His people Israel with love.” (Translation, Artscroll Siddur) Significantly, the text does not state “Who chose His people Israel with love,” which would have referred to an historical choice lost long ago in the distant sands of time. Instead, our Sages formulated the prayer in the present tense, i.e., Hashem continuously chooses us in love. This illustrates the tremendous depth of care and concern our Creator has for us.
 
Two explicit statements of Hashem’s depth of connection to us are found in the Amidah (Shmoneh Esrei). In the very first bracha we encounter the phrase “l’ma’an sh’mo b’ahavah” (“for His Name’s sake, with love”). In the blessing known as “Re’tzeh”, we find the phrase: “u’tefilatom b’ahavah tikabale b’ratzon” (“and their prayer accept with love and favor.”) In sum, if we but listen to what we are saying in our prayers on a daily and ongoing basis, we will sense Hashem’s love enveloping us. Little wonder, then, that Megillat Shir HaShirim is the ultimate metaphor for the relationship that obtains between Hashem and the Jewish people.
 
Shemini Atzeret’s message of G-d’s love for us, as reflected, as well, in the words of our tefilot, is a crucial one indeed. It teaches us that we are not alone; for no matter how difficult our daily struggles may be, Hashem is ever our beloved soulmate who continually searches for us in order to bestow His love upon us. In a world that is so often frightening and alienating, this is a message that we continually need to hear. May it be Hashem’s will that we will ever be deserving of His devotion and everlasting love. V’chane yihi ratzon.
 
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!

Past drashot may be found at my blog-website: http://reparashathashavuah.org
They may also be found on  http://www.yutorah.org/ using the search criteria of Etengoff and the parasha’s name.

The email list, b’chasdei Hashem, has expanded to hundreds of people. I am always happy to add more members to the list. If you have family or friends you would like to have added, please do not hesitate to contact me via email mailto:[email protected].

*** My audio shiurim for Women on the topics of Tefilah and Tanach may be found at: http://tinyurl.com/8hsdpyd
 
*** I have posted 164 of Rabbi Soloveitchik’s English language audio shiurim (MP3 format) spanning the years 1958-1984. Please click on this link: http://bit.ly/2jrPl2V.

Share

2 Comments
Beckys Bucketlist link
3/4/2021 02:35:08 am

Thank you foor sharing

Reply
International Tennessee link
4/22/2021 11:41:26 pm

Appreciaate this blog post

Reply



Leave a Reply.

Details

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Author

    Talmid of Rabbi Soloveitchik zatzal

    Categories

    All
    Parashat Hashavuah

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Blog: Rabbi David Etengoff: Parashat HaShavuah
  • Sefer Bereishit 5784&5785
  • Sefer Shemot 5784&5785
  • Sefer Vayikra 5784&5785
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5784 &5785
  • Sefer Devarim 5784&5785
  • Sefer Bereishit 5782&5783
  • Sefer Shemot 5782&5783
  • Sefer Vayikra 5782&5783
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5782&5783
  • Sefer Devarim 5782&5783
  • Sefer Bereishit 5780& 5781
  • Sefer Shemot 5780&5781
  • Sefer Vayikra 5780&5781
  • Sefer Bamidbar 578&5781
  • Sefer Devarim 578&5781
  • Sefer Bereishit 5778&5779
  • Sefer Shemot 5778&5779
  • Sefer Vayikra 5778&5779
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5778&5779
  • Sefer Devarim 5778&5779
  • Sefer Bereishit 5776&5777
  • Sefer Bereishit 5774&5775
  • Sefer Bereishit 5772&5773
  • Sefer Bereishit 5771&5770
  • Sefer Shemot 5776&5777
  • Sefer Shemot 5774&5775
  • Sefer Shemot 5772&5773
  • Sefer Shemot 5771&5770
  • Sefer Vayikra 5776&5777
  • Sefer Vayikra 5774&5775
  • Sefer Vayikra 5772&5773
  • Sefer Vayikra 5771&5770
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5776&5777
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5774&5775
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5772&5773
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5771&5770
  • Sefer Devarim 5776&5777
  • Sefer Devarim 5774&5775
  • Sefer Devarim 5772&5773
  • Sefer Devarim 5771&5770