Three more holidays in our Jewish New Year Holiday Season:
Tishrei 21, which ended at sundown tonight, was Hoshana Rabba (“the Great Hoshana”), which was the final day for waving the lulav and etrog.
Tishrei 22 began at sundown tonight, initiating the holiday of Sh’mini ‘Atzeret (“the Stopping of the Eighth,” i.e., the eighth day, and truly the end of, Sukkot), a less-famous Jewish festival. Among other observances, we say goodbye to the sukkah until next year.
Tishrei 23 is when we celebrate Simhat Torah, which means, literally, “the joy of the Torah.” We read from the very end, then rewind the scroll all the way back to the beginning and read from there.
It is truly a holiday cycle.
Hebrew grammar:
Simhat is the s’mikhut (construct) form of simhah. The noun modifies the next noun.
Simhah = joy
Simhat = joy of…
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