Shemini Atzeret

Shemini Atzeret or Shemini Atzeret (Hebrew שְּׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת, literally " eight [ day] of Assembly ", German and circuit-proof ) is the directly on the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles ( Sukkot ) following Jewish holiday, which is often regarded as part of Sukkot. In Orthodox and Conservative communities of the Diaspora, he is celebrated two days on 22 and 23, in Israel and in some Reform congregations a day on 22 Tishri, the seventh month of the Jewish calendar in September or October. The second day of the holiday is called Simchat Torah; where Shemini Atzeret lasts only one day, although the two holidays together. Shemini Atzeret was celebrated in ancient times after Sukkot, while Simchat Torah is developed only in nachtalmudischer time.

The holiday is mentioned in the Bible several times, as in Leviticus 23:36 and Numbers GNB GNB 29.35: " On the eighth day you come along to the great festal gathering; all work must rest on that day ", as in the description of the dedication of Solomon's temple in Jerusalem ( 2 Chr 7:9-10 GNB) and at the celebration after the return of the Jews from the Babylonian exile ( Neh 8:18 GNB).

According to today's custom is still partially eaten on Shemini Atzeret in the sukkah, the morning prayer for rain (Hebrew גֶּשֶׁם, Geshem ) is recited in the synagogue during or before the Mussafgebet, and the prayer for rain is from this day forward until first day of Passover - the rainy season, the winter months in the Middle East - inserted at the beginning of eighteen prayer. Except when one of the intermediate days of Sukkot falls on a Sabbath, the book of Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes ) to Shemini Atzeret is read. In addition, after Ashkenazic rite, the only four times a year spoken prayer in memory of the deceased, " Yizkor " or " soul memory" (Heb. הַזְכָּרַת נְשָׁמוֹת, Haskarat Neschamot ) prayed.

Literature (selection )

• Shemini Atzeret article, in: Jewish Encyclopedia, Berlin 1927, Vol IV / 2, Sp 180-181