Shalom everyone,
Yesterday at sunset began the day which rabbinic Judaism knows as ‘Simchat Torah‘ (‘Rejoicing of the Torah‘), but which the Torah itself refers to as Yom Shmini ha-Atzéret (Eighth Day of Closed Assembly) – you will soon find out that they are not the same thing, and the character of them are not the same. Simchat Torah is a rabbinic invention dating to after Temple times. However, as is the practice and desire of our community, we need to look at how it was practised during the late 2nd Temple period, in order to rediscover what it would have meant to Yeshua and his Jewish followers.
On the eighth day we do not dwell in a booth. The seven days of Sukkot were for both Israelites and Gentiles; the eighth is for the Assembly of Israel alone (all those who worship YHVH exclusively); in Temple times, during the seven days, a total of seventy bulls were sacrificed, it is said for the supposedly seventy nations of the known world; on the eighth day, just one bull was sacrificed, and that was for the nation of Israel alone.
The 7 days of Sukkot were for the rejoicing of both Jews and Gentiles; on the 8th day, the Day of Atzéret, it was for the solemn assembly of Israel alone. On the other days, we pray for the welfare of all the nations, for their wellbeing, for their prosperity, for the bounty of their crops and for good rains to fall on their farmlands; on this day, we concentrate on praying for Israel and all the followers of Yahveh, and for the Autumn rains to come to the Land of Israel.
There are very few details about how this festival is to be celebrated in the Miqra. Different communities have observed it in different ways. Rabbinic Judaism observes it as Simchat Torah – Rejoicing in Torah. However, we have already done that 21 days ago on Yom Truʽah (Yom Truʽah is the biblical day for rejoicing in Torah).
What little we do know from the Miqra, is that it is meant to be a solemn festival, and a day of rest when no work is done. The verb-root that the name is taken from, ʽa-ts-r (ʽayin-tzadey-reysh), means to shut, restrict, detain, to close off. Some say that this might refer to either being ‘detained’ before Yahveh, or to the restriction on work. However, the use of the noun elsewhere suggests that this is not the intended meaning.
In modern Hebrew, ʽatséret is used to mean ‘a rally’, as in ‘a rally for a specific political party’ (i.e. the connection with the word‘s ancient meaning is that it is ‘a gathering intended solely for those with particular interests’).
As for biblical Hebrew, 2Kings 10:20-23 makes it clear that this type of assembly is a restricted one – i.e. restricted to a particular interest group. The passage in 2Kings refers to an ʽatséret (a closed assembly) for Baal-worshippers only; modern Hebrew makes its usage to be an ʽatséret restricted to individual political parties. Coupled with the symbolism of the one bull sacrificed on this day, this gives us a clue about what type of assembly our ʽatséret refers to. An ʽatséret is not a general assembly open to everyone, but a restricted one for people who share and support a common interest – in this day’s case, restricted to those who follow Yahveh exclusively (Israelites, Godfearers and Noahides/Gentile Yahwists).
The order of Torah portions and haftarot that the ancients designed to be read at this time of year, make it clear to us that the way they understood this day was as a time for us to re-examine our faith and mission, and to rededicate ourselves each year to Yahveh and to the purpose God has chosen us for.
In the 1st century CE, the day also became commonly known as Hoshana Rabbah in Aramaic, ‘the Day of the Great Hosanna‘, after the words of the main prayer, the Hosanna prayer (from the Hebrew hoshiaʽ na: Please save us).
This day closes off the season of penitence, reflection, and joy in Yahveh’s teaching and Torah. Today we recall our mission as Israelites, and as Followers of the Way of Yahveh. We reflect on how best we as individuals and as a community can ideally fulfil our mission.
Our Mission as Followers of YHVH
Our God cannot be seen. Unlike pagan gods, YHVH does not incarnate in physical form. People cannot see or hear our God, so in a sense, we all have to be God’s arms, legs and voice – we carry out our God’s will, so it becomes visible to the world. Our words and actions have to reflect well on the God we serve – we exist to continue the good and holy reputation of YHVH. The vast majority of religious people join a religion for what it can do for them. The Israelite religion is radically different. We are Followers of YHVH, because of what we can do for YHVH. Our ancient faith exists therefore to be a witness to the power and presence of YHVH.
The community who follows YHVH was also meant to be an eternal witness. That’s why the conversion process is so thorough. The community of YHVH seeks devoted followers, ones who will not be shaken from their faith when trouble and hard times come. A convert will also be committing his or her post-conversion descendants to the Israelite community into perpetuity – an eternal witness. This witness can never be destroyed, though our enemies may try.
The community of YHVH was meant to be a living Ark for the Glory of YHVH. In the Tent of Meeting, the Glory of God would come through from heaven, above the Ark. God’s protective holiness would thereby dwell amongst his emissaries – the Assembly of all Israel, you and I, and all our fellow Jews and Godfearers (referred to as geirim, ‘resident foreigners’ in Torah). No evil can stand or endure against the holiness and Glory of YHVH. Therefore, a community which lives God’s ways, which dedicates itself to YHVH’s teachings, values and ideals – that community becomes a living Ark of the Covenant. A community that follows human teachings alone, has no power or shield to defend itself against evil, but a community that lives by the teachings of YHVH will ultimately endure against evil and prosper.
We all have our own individual missions; God sent each one of us to earth, with our own individual purpose. However the bottom line is that as a community and as a people, we all work together for God’s kingdom – to bring it to its fulfilment. Now, that fulfilment may not happen in our lifetimes, but we will have added our own rung to the ladder, one that will enable the next generation to get one step closer to the Glory of God breaking through to fill the earth, just as it fills heaven. While on earth, we sow the seeds of the fulfilment of God’s Kingdom; with our work done, we can then return home to our Father in heaven, content in the knowledge we have done our job, and accomplished our part in God’s great plan. And in heaven, we will be rewarded by witnessing the fulfilment of God’s Kingdom ourselves, because all time is one, and we will be eternal beings ourselves. While on earth, we work, not for us, but for the eternal Glory of YHVH.
In ancient cultures around the world, many households had servants and slaves. There were a few good masters, but most were indifferent, bad and even cruel masters. That rarity – the good master – would look after his servants, provide for their needs, and even ensure their families were taken care of. Such masters showed great concern when their servants were sick, and provided for them in their old age. YHVH our God is such a good Master. Those who work loyally in the service of YHVH will be spiritually provided for.
We work to spread the knowledge of the Glory of God – how it heals, purifies, corrects wrongs, restores a broken society, changes lives, and makes us whole. As a people, we exist to warn society whenever things veer off course, and act as God’s agents here on earth, to set things aright. Because if those warnings are not heeded, and if society does not take a cold, hard look at itself and get back on course, God will have no alternative but to do something God is most reluctant to do – act with full force, because God knows that then, the innocent will suffer along with the guilty. Because of this, we teach others that God is not a magic-wand god, but a God who acts over generations, building and renewing, who acts by using the actions of God’s servants.
With God’s authority, we are to speak for those who have no voice. We are to lift the poor out of the mire, give comfort to those whom society mistreats, and give shelter to those whom society has made homeless. As YHVH provides and feeds us, so as a people, we provide and feed those who have no means to do that themselves. YHVH is the God of the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the oppressed, the maligned and the outcast – of all nations, not just of Israel. This aspect of God’s reputation is our mission too. It is part of living in the Kingdom.
We are to show the world what YHVH wishes for all of us. We strive to be examples on behalf of YHVH. We train and strengthen our lives, such that our thoughts, words and actions reflect favourably on the amazing, awesome and powerful God we serve. We are to show people that God desires for God’s children to be confident and healthy, strong in our hearts and minds, and not grovelling in the dust like cowering, brainwashed, unquestioning minions.
We are to show the world what false and true religion is. False religion is hatred, intolerance, exclusion, knowledge-hating, judgmentalism and hypocrisy. True religion is spiritual humility, seeking to know God, acting with justice and understanding towards others, and acknowledging that all knowledge and wisdom come from God. True religion is creating a stable society, passing on values from generation to generation. True religion heals and repairs. True religion is realising that all wealth comes from YHVH, and that it can be taken away just as easily as it is given, if it is used for selfish ends. True religion enables families, nations and peoples to work peacefully together, to resolve conflicts in a just and reasonable way.
In ancient times, a priest had to know how to prepare himself to approach the Glory of God. By living a certain way, by observing certain disciplines and principles, a priest could withstand small doses of exposure to the searing Glory of YHVH. We ourselves can prepare our hearts, minds and souls to bear, and then carry the Glory of God to the world, and become a light to the nations. We need to make ourselves ready to be ambassadors for YHVH’s Message – and so make walking with God become second nature. In so doing, the Glory of God can continue to dwell among us.
Show the world the strength, understanding and wisdom that come through to us from YHVH. Leave behind all arrogance and haughtiness, all vanity and conceitedness, and walk humbly with your God.
The end of this week’s sidra deals with the right foods to eat – the best nourishment for our bodies. So on the Day of Closed Assembly, let us all consider the spiritual nourishment that we shall ingest over the coming year until our next reconsecration. Let’s look at what we allow into our hearts and minds; as with food, if we are not careful, it’s a case of ‘rubbish in, rubbish out’. If we don’t look after what our spirit feeds on, we are in danger of ‘spiritual obesity’, and spiritual ill-health.
This Yom ha-Atseret (Tues. sunset to Wed. sunset), I exhort you to consecrate yourselves to the service and Message of YHVH. In remembrance of the time when the first priests assumed their duties to YHVH, each year on this day we take up anew our duties in the service of our God. Dedicate your lives to making this world a slightly better place than it was when you arrived in it. Devote yourself to understanding your mission and purpose, and strive for the fulfilment of God’s eternal kingdom. None of us are perfect, and some of us might think we are not strong enough or gifted enough. However, with God’s Presence among us, we will have a source of strength and courage amongst us to do wonderful things! It is YHVH’s Presence among us that enables us to do great things.
I end with a quote from the haftarah portion, the prayer of King Solomon which reflects the theme for this coming day – contemplating our mission as Followers of the Way of YHVH:
“May God incline our hearts towards God, so that we may walk in all God’s ways and keep God’s commandments – the laws and the principles which God enjoined on our ancestors . . . to the end purpose that all the peoples of the earth may know that YHVH alone is God, and that there is no other. And may you be wholehearted in your dedication to YHVH our God – to walk in God’s ways, and observe God’s teachings.”