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Special Holiday Parashah Shemini Atzeret 5763/2002
EJD
The Bagel: The Bagel: The extra blessing. In Biblical literature there is a literary device to express a more intense emphasis. This device is structured by this formula: X - X+1. For example in Proverbs the formula is expressed with the lines: "For 3 things...." "and four things...." This week's reading could be subtly structured as a 7 - 8.
For seven things are completion
and eight things are a new beginning
or
When Shmitah obligations are done
then Simchah celebrations are begun
In Deuteronomy 14-16 there are seven topics and the eighth is Succot. Here are the seven/eight topics from Deuteronomy:
- Tithe
- Debts cancelled
- Poor aided
- Shmitah - for fields
- Slaves released
- First-born animals cared for
- Passover
- Succot
Succot commands a time of rejoicing. This was because the harvest was in, and other yearly obligations were completed and even the Parashot are nearly completed. Thus the eighth topic (Succot) in Dt. 16:14-15 suggests that a new beginning is also near, because it requires the Israelite to rejoice on the 8th day.
The eighth day often indicates a new beginning. For instance, the male child is circumcised on the eighth day. On the first week of creation when the first Shabbot was completed (the seventh day) God declared that His obligations were completed in the creation week. The next day (eighth day) was the beginning of the newly completed creation week. Psalm 118:22-24 speaks of a day of rejoicing - the day that the rejected stone was made the chief cornerstone. This has its fulfillment in the work of the Messiah. Jesus died for the sins of the world, then rose on a Sunday morning, the eighth day or the day that commenced a new beginning.
In the 1 Kings reading, king Solomon blessed the people, then he dedicated the Temple. The work was done of construction, and dedication. Now, a new beginning commenced with an operational temple.
In the Brit Chadashah the emphasis is on the completed work of the Messiah with a New Covenant relationship. This relationship is said to be akin to circumcision, except it is the circumcision of the heart. Thus it is a new beginning (Colossians 2:11-13).
Rejoice then in that completed work of the Messiah Jesus.
Cream Cheese: a savior, a salvation, a simchah.
The weekly reading for the week of 22 Tisrei, 5763 - Sept 28, 2002 Torah: Shemini Atzeret Deuteronomy 14:22 to 16:17; Maftir: Numbers 29:35 to 30:1[35-40] Haftarah: 1 Kings 8:54 to 9:1
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