A Tale Of Two Atzerets
By: Alan A. Mazurek, MD
This is going to be a hard column to write because it touches on perplexing and enigmatic ideas. Many of Chazal as well as modern day scholars have written about it, and for me, it often leads to more confusion, even dissatisfaction, after reading their learned thoughts. I am sure the failure is mine, not theirs. So then why even write about it? Because I think we are living in a time so filled with mystery and uncertainty, a time which is openly displaying “supernatural” phenomena that defy our understanding, that it defines the zeitgeist. What I’m talking about is the two “bookends” of the Jewish year, Shmini Atzeret, which follows Sukkot in Tishrei, and Shavuot, which is called Atzeret by Chazal, that follows Pesach in Nissan, but itself occurs seven weeks later in Sivan. Thus, the two Atzerets occur almost eight months apart. The many similarities between the two are as fascinating as their differences.
First the similarities. As stated, both are known as Atzeret, which means a stop or conclusion. But it also means a gathering or assembly. Both are Torah-ordained regalim, times of pilgrimage by the Jewish residents of Israel to the Holy Temple, first to the Mishkan and then to the Batei Mikdash in Yerushalayim. Both have no specific mitzvah from the Torah associated with them. Yes, Shavuot has bikkurim first fruits and shtei halechem, but if you aren’t a farmer or a Kohen, you have no obligation. Shmini Atzeret has no mitzvot, other than specific sacrifices that Shavuot also has; but no mitzvot for the average Jew. Both are referred to in the Torah as mikraei kodesh, what we refer to as yom tov, where most work is forbidden. Both are one day in Israel, two days in chutz la’Aretz.
As stated, both occur after a major regel, Shmini Atzeret after Sukkot and Shavuot after Pesach. This has led some (Ramban) to compare the seven-week Omer counting period to a prolonged “chol ha’moed”concluding with Shavuot, thereby connecting it with Pesach and Yetziat Mitzrayim. This connection is confirmed repeatedly by the Torah narrative about Shavuot.
And of course, the most obvious similarity between the two is the focus on Torah: Shmini Atzeret is Simchat Torah and Shavuot is Z’man Matan Torah, the date we received the Torah.
Despite the fact that NOWHERE in the Torah does it mention Torah in connection with either holiday! That topic is a separate discussion unto itself.
Now the differences. Mostly related to the calendar, Shmini Atzeret at the advent of winter, so we start saying “Morid ha’Geshem” at Musaf, while Shavuot the advent of summer, so we have already been eliminating Geshem (or saying “Morid ha’Tal”) since Pesach. Shavuot, since it is traditionally considered Dovid HaMelech’s birthday and yahrzeit, many read Megillat Rut, while Shmini Atzeret brings before it the solemnity of Megillat Kohelet. But strikingly the greatest difference is within what we described above as a similarity.
Both are by rabbinic decree connected to Torah, but in profoundly different ways. Shmini Atzeret to the completion and then restarting the annual reading of the Torah, while Shavuot to the receiving of the Torah at Har Sinai. Yet we celebrate these Torah-related holidays in extraordinarily different ways. Shmini Atzeret we open the Torah to read from within it, but most of the celebration is enthusiastic, uncontrolled, some would say frenzied dancing with the Torah. We don’t learn it or plumb its innermost messages, lessons, and secrets. We dance with it!
In contrast, on Shavuot, we stay up all night and study it, discuss it, teach it, recite a summarized version of it (tikkun leil Shavuot), to the point the next day we are so bleary eyed we can barely enjoy our cheesecake or blintzes! We are sober and the only dancing we want to do is the next morning to the bed, to catch up on some much-needed sleep. The difference I believe is tied into the inherent difference between the two Atzerets, which is this:
On Shmini Atzeret, G-d is in love with us, and we are in love with His precious Torah. On Shavuot, we are in love with G-d, and to show Him that love we pour over and adore His most precious gift to us, the Torah. This is so clear from the mefarshim on the respective pesukim, especially Rashi who says on Shmini Atzeret, Hashem wants us (only us!) to come to a small dinner party with Him, because it’s hard for him to see us leave Him to go home after spending Sukkot together.
On Shavuot, as the Torah says repeatedly, for 50 days we have been counting until we are together with Him. May I suggest that it is a slight variation on Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “how do I love thee, let me count the ways”; for us it’s “let me count the days.” On Shmini Atzeret the love is unbridled; on Shavuot it is more mature and focused. You need both for a strong, secure relationship. It’s all about timing. Perhaps that is why we read Kohelet on Sukkot, just before Shmini Atzeret, to remind us l’kol zman va’et, everything has its season, and there is a time for everything, and we read the other love story of Ruth on Shavuot, to describe her love for her mother-in-law Naomi, for her future husband Boaz, but most importantly for Hashem and the Jewish people, so much so she converts and merits to be the progenitor of King David and ultimately Melech HaMoshiach!
Finally, the juxtaposition of these two Atzerets is so poignant for us in particular as we’ve watched Hashem’s handiwork unfold over the last ten years, and especially over the last almost three years. I used the word supernatural above not to connote the “spooky” but rather in its literal meaning, above nature. In Judaism, we recognize that the “natural” number is seven and any multiple of seven. That’s why the number eight is above nature, “supernatural,” as is the number 50, one above the number 49. Both Shmini Atzeret, the eighth day and Shavuot, the 50th day after counting the 49 days of the Omer, are therefore supernatural. That’s without question the time we are living in.
The countless miracles, large and small that we’ve all been witness to at home and on the battlefield, the unending sacrifice of our children who must fight, and their families that must persevere and endure. These are all miraculous things. That a country that has been fighting for its life in a brutal, seemingly unending war and the economy grows and thrives, is a miracle. The election of Donald Trump in 2016 and then again in 2024 was without question supernatural. To come from nowhere, a man with no prior political experience, mocked and reviled by many, and win the role of leader of the most powerful nation in the world, not once but twice, not in succession, after being impeached twice, charged on 88 counts, convicted on 34 counts. To emerge as the best friend Israel has ever had, whether you like him or not. To move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem when all presidents before him promised to but didn’t. To take the battle to the evil head of the snake and clearly state that Iran will never get nuclear weapons and mean it, backing it up with the greatest military force the world has ever seen, despite the protests and objections of most of the world and our “allies.” To survive THREE assassination attempts. To appoint true lovers of Israel as Secretaries of State and War and Ambassador to Israel, despite unprecedented Jew hatred, even from his own party, all while most Jewish “leaders” are running for cover or silent. To declare a national day of Shabbat observance in appreciation for the Jewish people of America and urge them to keep Shabbos, even as Europe and a good portion of the rest of the world is banning circumcision, kosher shechita or not allowing open Jewish ritual display or belief. After October 7, which not coincidentally was Shmini Atzeret, when Israel and world Jewry faced and still faces their greatest threat in our lifetime, these actions are definitely above the natural order. This is Yad Hashem. That is supernatural.
Now as I write this, as the war is set to resume and hopefully brought to its successful conclusion on Shavuot, that will be a miracle too. On Shavuot we thank Hashem for the incomparable gift of His Torah. Let us do that on this Shavuot, as we recognize that President Trump may be a wonderful king, but as we say in the B’rich Shmei prayer when we take out the Torah from the Aron, aant who d’shalit al malchaya—You, (Hashem) rule over all kings!
You Hashem are our Guarantor, and we know and believe Netzach Yisrael lo yishaker—the Glory of Israel does not deceive…
Chag Shavuot sameach v’Shabbat shalom!
Dr. Alan A. Mazurek is a retired neurologist, living in Jerusalem and Florida. He is a former chairman of the ZOA.
