Shemini Atzeret 5785

By Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields, WLCJ Executive Director

Shemini Atzeret Yizkor

As a member of the Jewish community, we have the privilege of having two birthdays – the secular date and also the Hebrew date. Therefore, I often mention to my family that on both March 7 and also on the 21st of Adar, we should celebrate. On the other hand, that also means that a person’s Yahrzeit, the anniversary of their death, can also be on two dates. This year it is particularly true, as we mark one year since the horrific events which took place on October 7, 2023, which was Shemini Atzeret outside of Israel, and in Israel, they were celebrating both Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. Therefore, this week, on the 22nd of Tishrei, on the holiday of Shemini Atzeret, which begins Wednesday night, October 23 and continues into Thursday, October 24, we mark the first Yahrzeit of all those who were killed on October 7, 2023, referred to as the Black Shabbat.

The English date of October 7, as well as the observance of Shemini Atzeret will never be the same, both personally, communally, and universally.  It is ironic that we already say Yizkor on Shemini Atzeret, but I believe that this year, our Yizkor prayers will be even more powerful, and more meaningful.  As a Women’s League community, at Makom B’Yachad on October 8, we had a special ceremony to mark the one year anniversary of the horrific day of October 7. If you were not able to attend, click here to view the program. In addition, click here to view the Yizkor Prayers for the Victims of October 7, collected by the Rabbinical Assembly, some of which were used at our Makom B’Yachad program.

Many were raised with the concept, some might say superstition, that if one does not have to say Yizkor for a relative, they should leave the sanctuary during Yizkor. I actually remember the first time I ever stayed in the sanctuary during Yizkor. It was Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah 5756 (1995), and I was spending my year of Rabbinical School in Israel. This story could only happen in Israel.  My classmate was on an Egged bus, the name of the bus company in Israel, one of the days after Yom Kippur and  before Sukkot. A random woman turned to her and said, “I saw you on Yom Kippur. You and  your friend (which we figured out was me) walked out during Yizkor. You should not do that. Stay in. There are many people who have died in wars defending the State of Israel, and in the Holocaust, and they have no one saying Yizkor for them. If you and your friend are so blessed to not have to say Yizkor for a direct relative, ok. But we are all related and there are so many that have no one to say Kaddish or Yizkor for them.”

And so, on that Shemini Atzeret, my friend and I, who were blessed to not have to say Yizkor for any direct relatives, remained in the sanctuary with the community, to say Yizkor for our extended family of Israel.  After that we prayed for rain, danced Hakafot for Simchat Torah, and had an aliyah. The combination of celebrating both holidays in one day was exhausting — the sadness of reciting the Yizkor prayers; the emotional davening of the Hazzan, as he wore the white kittel, robe, and prayed for rain; and the joy of dancing with the Torah and having the entire community have an aliyah. It was truly life — we are sad; we are happy. This is the cycle of life. The people at the Nova Festival were enjoying themselves; and then their joy was cut short and eradicated. We can never take life for granted.  As we begin this new year, may each day be filled with more joy than sadness for all of us. 

Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields
WLCJ Executive Director
ewolintz-fields@wlcj.org