Volume 18 Number 1
September/October 2001
Elul/Tishri 5762

Shemini Atzeret—Abiding With Messiah At The High Holy Days

By Rabbi Barney Kasdan
 

Once again we are entering the beautiful cycle of the fall Holy Days. After the long summer, we are called to have the holy convocations of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot; essentially a month of celebration and reflection on our spiritual condition. Of course, there is a wonderful connection between these days. Rosh Hashanah is our call to make tshuva/a return to our Heavenly Father. After the 10 days of repentance we come to the most holy Yom Kippur where we recognize God’s solution of atonement. Then on to dwell in the Sukkot for the next week which reminds us of God’s presence dwelling in our midst. However, through all the celebrations, there is one particular day some people overlook. In the Torah (Leviticus 23:36) we are told to add on an eighth day of dwelling known as Shemini Atzeret. Why add an extra day as a separate holy day? The secret seems to be in the name itself. Atzeret, usually translated “assembly”, can also be understood in the sense of “abiding or waiting.” Rashi, the famous commentator, likens this special day to a banquet which was held by a certain king. Everyone was having such a great time at the feast that the king pleaded with his friends not to leave but to abide with him one more day. Such is the purpose of Shemini Atzeret. It is as if, after all the wonderful Holy Days, that our King is pleading with us to abide in his presence just a little longer.

For those of us who are followers of Yeshua as the promised Mashiach, the lessons of this additional day are quite profound. As Yeshua shared that 3 amd a half year walk with his disciples, he revealed many wonderful truths from the Heavenly Father. It was on one such occasion that he spoke of some of these ideas surrounding Shemini Atzeret. As his followers, the only real hope of a fruitful and blessed spiritual life was to stay connected to him and the power of the Spirit. As with the parable of the king, Yeshua said “You are my friends…abide in my love” (Yochanan/John 15:9,14). Although they had been walking together for this time, soon their Messiah would be taken from them by his atoning death. Yet that could not stop God’s ultimate plan. Indeed, the death and resurrection of the Mashiach would fulfill some of the important prophecies of the Tenach (cf. Isaiah 53). The radical message of Messianic Judaism is that the Messiah came, died for the purpose of atonement and was resurrected as the living hope of Israel. We do not espouse to simply follow another religion or philosophy. Ours is a faith in the living God of Abraham and the Messiah whom he sent. Hence even today his followers, Jews and Gentiles alike, are in a dynamic relationship with the living Yeshua. Like the 8th day of assembly, we are called to continually abide in his love, presence and power.

I think it is beautiful that God has given us such a wonderful way to cap the High Holy days. It is especially appropriate that at the start of the fall, He has given us a season of prayer, reflection and adjustment. As the sun sets to start the 1st of Tishri (September 17), may it usher in a fresh move of God’s Spirit in our lives. The King is calling us to hear his voice in a dynamic way. He cares for us so much that He desires to abide with us. Will we hear His invitation and abide with him in the new spiritual year? Don’t miss the blessings of the Father this next year. L’shana tova/Happy New Year!