Netivot Shalom DECEMBER, 2001 KISLEV-TEVET 5762

I have a favorite metaphor. There is a bank of elevators located in some high-rise building, and I am standing in front of that bank of elevators watching as they go up and down. Each of them is at a different floor. Some stop at each floor (like a Shabbat elevator!); others skip floors reacting to the needs of those passengers; some are on their way up while others are coming down. Some reach the top - others begin their descent before getting to the top floor. Some need special keys to open on certain landings, while others stand empty, waiting for riders.

I like that metaphor because it is complex and because it often helps me explain what is going on in life. Take our shul, for example: On the Shabbat of Hayee Sarah, we officially began using the new Humash, Etz Hayim, a brand new commentary which reflects the theology of the Conservative Movement. Traditionally, Jews have not written theology; they have written commentary which reflected their theology. Etz Hayim is a wonderful example of that fact - a Humash that reflects the theology of the Conservative Movement. It contains the best that modern scholarship has to offer from the minds of scholars associated with the Conservative Movement who try to discover meaning through the use of traditional commentary and modern methodology and discoveries.

The commentary separates peshat, the plain meaning of the text, from derash, the insights of classical, medieval, Hasidic, contemporary religious and secular thinkers. This distinction in and of itself is a hallmark of our movement. It does not say that one is "better" than the next. It merely contends that there are two kinds of truth.

There is a section called "Halacha lema'aseh" which tries to link text to Conservative law. Each of the haftarot have an introduction with two parts: the first talks about the haftarah and the prophet; the second, which tries to connect the haftarah to the parashah. In the back of the Humash are 41 topical essays (one of which was written by yours truly about the Torah Scroll). These essays, plus reference tools at the end, mark this as a major innovation in our attempts to understand and apply the wisdom of the Torah to our lives.

Thanks go in particular to Rena Fischer, for leading the campaign to purchase these volumes for our use. Thanks to the Ritual Committee and to you, for agreeing to make Etz Hayim an important addition to our Shabbat morning experience.

While our elevator was going up on Parashat Hayee Sarah, on the very next morning, Parashat Toldot, we entered into another elevator as we gathered to hear about our new building. What a remarkable event. We were all privileged to see and hear the work of so many individuals led by the remarkable design team of Blaire Prentice, David Finn, Ed Anisman and Bruce Starkman (with others to join in the next phase). Thousands of hours of work, spanning many years, produced the first public translation of our collective vision into real drawings and timetables and plans. These individuals and the rest of the Site Work Committee, under the Chair of Joe Meresman, have been engaged in the task of gathering information through research and listening to various members and committees of Netivot Shalom, and then translating our programmatic needs into a space that is both sacred and workable. Amazing!

As I gave my dvar Torah about the theological implications of having windows in the building (a halachic requirement for synagogues), Blaire Prentice came up and, completely unrehearsed, showed his designs for the sanctuary and the building which reflected precisely what I had discovered in my Talmudic search. I can't begin to describe that delicious feeling of confluence. It's all coming together. Yes, there are issues to be discussed (bathrooms and elevators in particular), but from the comments it became clear that we really are going to have a "home of our own".

Yet another elevator took me to the financial position of our campaign. We are very close to $2,800,000. In one year, and with just about 140 of you (us) who have made significant pledges so far, we are more than half-way there! That's the good news; the bad news is that we are only half-way there. Thanks to Art Braufman, Ann Swidler, Claudia Valas and Mike Irwin, we have come this far. We need to push on and complete this phase in our development as we near our target - now on our own, as Stan Moore, our consultant, has completed his tenure with us. We can and will make this happen.

These are some of our elevators - there are others. Our Amitim program is currently undergoing some revisions; Shabbat B'Yachad, Shabbat Shelanu, Religious School, adult education, Hebrew language program, and Etzleynu - all of these "elevators" are moving, dynamically.

What of our future? Yes, we need to begin thinking about next year. Our plans for further staffing positions, programming, volunteers and our long-range plans are all subjects for consideration. Push the button, and jump on to the elevator(s). Now you can ride two or more at the same time!!

Chag orim sameach!

SATURDAYS

All services are held at the Berkeley-Richmond Jewish Community Center 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley

Torah Study	9:00 a.m.
Shabbat Services	9:45 a.m.
Meditative Minyan 3rd Shabbat December 15	9:30 a.m.
Learner's Minyan, 2nd & 4th Shabbat December 8, 22	9:45 a.m.
For Children & Parents: Shabbat B'Yachad (pre-school), 2nd & 4th Shabbat December 8, 22	11:00 a.m.
Shabbat Shelanu (grades K-2), 1st &3rd Shabbat December 1 & 15	11:30 a.m.
Children's Service for K-2nd grade (2nd & 4th Shabbat)	11:30 a.m.
for 3-6th grade	10:30 a.m.
each Saturday, unless otherwise indicated

WEEKDAY MINYANIM

All services are held at our offices, 1841 Berkeley Way, Berkeley Morning Minyan Wednesdays7:15 a.m. Rosh Chodesh Minyan
Rosh Chodesh Tevet, December 15 7:15 am

Shabbat Services

TORAH STUDY & DRASH SCHEDULE FOR: DECEMBER

1	Torah Study of Va Yishlach with Rabbi Art Gould
8	Torah Study of Va Yeshev with Nitzhia Shaked
15	Torah Study of Mi Ketz with Michael Cohen Drash by Sam Finn, Bar Mitzvah
22	Torah Study of Va Yiggash with Nitzhia Shaked
29	Torah Study of Va Yehi with Naomi Seidman

On November 22nd, 1973, Rom and I were part of the gar'in (literally, "seed") that established Kibbutz Ketura in the southern Arava desert. Ketura is about 25 miles north of the city of Eilat, situated on the old "green line" border with Jordan. In 1973 the Southern Arava was not teeming with settlements. The city of Eilat had a population of about 13,000. Just north of Eilat was Kibbutz Eilot. A kilometer south of Ketura was Kibbutz Grofit, and about eight kilometers south of Grofit was Kibbutz Yotvata.

In those days the only way to establish a Kibbutz was through Nahal, a branch of the Israeli army. We were drafted in early 1972, and were actually still in the army when we established the Kibbutz. The Israeli government had tried to convince us to take a piece of land closer to the center of Israel, thinking that a bunch of "soft Americans" wouldn't do well in the far-flung desert of the Southern Arava. We fell in love with the site of Ketura when we saw it while on Young Judea Year Course in 1969-1970, and were convinced that this was the place for us. Other places the government suggested to us were in the territories, and we were adamant that we wanted our settlement to be within the old green line.

Late one night, about a year and a half after establishing the Kibbutz, we got a call from the army. There had been a terrorist crossing in the Southern Arava, and we were put on alert. We quickly established watching posts around the perimeter of the kibbutz. Those of us who had been in the army were augmented by those who had received weapons training after we'd established the Kibbutz, and were stationed in groups of three at these outposts around the perimeter of the Kibbutz. My group outpost was by the dumpster into which we dumped our trash from our apartments. Certainly not a glamorous spot. But it afforded a certain amount of cover, and was an important position in maintaining the security of our dwellings and those adults and children huddled inside. We didn't have enough walkie-talkies to furnish one to each of the outposts, and our dumpster site didn't have easy communication with others around the Kibbutz.

A couple of hours into this alert, we saw a flare fired up from the other side of the Kibbutz, followed by gunfire. I can still remember the physical sensation of, first the blood draining out of my head, followed by the heart-pounding, limb-shaking adrenaline rush of that often spoken of (but rarely experienced) fight or flight response. I hunkered down into my position, drew my weapon, and unlatched the safety. Eyes roaming the empty desert around me, wondering from which direction someone might come, I was amazed that I was being called on to actually use those skills I had learned in basic training in the army. As the minutes ticked by I was treated to a flood of emotions. Fear - oh my - fear like I'd never known in my life. A sense of irony and even humor, that I might end up dying by a dumpster. Sadness - at the thought that our little piece of paradise was no longer safe, at the thought that someone might be hurt or worse - and then a profound sadness and anger that people who we didn't even know were out there intending to harm us, and that I might be called upon to be the agent of someone's demise. After what seemed like an interminable amount of time - but was more likely a matter of 15 minutes - someone came by to tell us that what had been seen on the other side of the Kibbutz was an animal of some sort, and that no one was in imminent danger.

We made it through the night, and as dawn broke over the Harei Edom across the border in Jordan, we received the all-clear call from the army. We dismantled our outposts, met in the chadar ochel for coffee and tea, and started our workday, each of us trying to sort out the myriad feelings with which we were left.

That was 27 years ago, and yet as I write about that incident, all of those feelings, along with some of the physical sensations, return. I've had some vivid recollections of that incident in the past, but, not surprisingly, they've become more prevalent in the wake of September 11th. I've come to realize that it's not just the normal process of recalling one fearful situation in the wake of another. We all have our dreams for peace in the Middle East, for an Israel that is safe and can assume its place as or lagoyim ("a light unto the nations"). We feel an immense sadness that we can't seem to find a way to that peace. We are frustrated, angry, bewildered, scared; and yet, we hang on to our hope as a drowning man hangs on to a life-preserver. Because what else can we do? We are a diverse community, and members of Netivot Shalom have different thoughts and ideas about how this peace can be achieved. Yet we all dream of, hope for, and pray for it.

This month we are celebrating Chanukah, commemorating the Maccabean victory over the Syrians, and the rededication of the Temple in Yerushalayim. There are those who say that Chanukah is likely the first record of the struggle for religious freedom in human history. I hope that each of us this year can re-dedicate ourselves to our hopes and dreams for peace. Nes Gadol Hayah Sham (A great miracle happened there). From our lips to God's ears.

Debby Graudenz

Sponsor a kiddush! Contact the Kiddush Coordinator, Janet Harris, at 524-2245 and at janeth2@aol.com. If you are already signed up for a kiddush, please contact Janet to re-confirm.

Sunday, December 2, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the BRJCC. Come share crafts, songs, food, and community warmth with your fellow Shabbat B'Yachad families. In the spirit of tzedakah, please bring a baby present, card and photo of your family for a young woman in our sister shul in Santiago, Cuba, who is due with her first baby in January. RSVP: Shalva Sorani (653-7343 or shalvasorani@yahoo.com).

This series is held on the second Saturday of each month at the Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley, 1:30-3:00 p.m., in the Library.

December 8	Rabbi Margie Jacobs
"Supportive Sisters or Sibling Rivals: Rachel and Leah through the Lens of Contemporary Feminist Midrash" Rabbi Margie Jacobs is the rabbi of Temple Beth Hillel in Richmond. A graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, she has lectured nationally for the speaker's bureau of the Kolot Center for Gender and Judaism on feminism, midrash, and Jewish mysticism, delving into the ancient Jewish tradition to uncover the sacred in our modern lives.
January 12	Jennifer Ring
"Tradition versus Inclusion: Tensions Between Women and Authentic Jewish Observance" Jennifer Ring is Professor of Political Science and Director of Women's Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno. She earned her doctorate in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in European and American political theory and political psychology. Ring is a nationally regarded expert in multicultural and identity politics, and race and gender in the United States.

The Gender and Judaism series is sponsored by Congregation Netivot Shalom and co-sponsored by the Berkeley-Richmond Jewish Community Center, Congregation Beth Israel, Congregation Beth El, Kehilla, and the Aquarian Minyan.

A CONCERT For Our Country & Community

ACHI BEN SHALOM and his band ADAMA, Mizrachi style music of ZA'ATAR, singers ARELLA BARLEV & IRA, A CAPPELA group & MORE

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 7:30-9:30 P.M. TEMPLE BETH EL (located at the corner of Arch and Vine)

Suggested donation: $18, $25 per couple. Families with children welcome! All proceeds to the September 11 Fund.

SPONSORED BY BETH EL, KEHILLA, BETH ISRAEL, BERKEKEY RICHMOND JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER, NETIVOT SHALOM & AQUARIAN MINYAN.

Erev Shira An Evening of Song at the Kelmans December 25 8:00 p.m. Guitars Welcome!

Rosh Chodesh Group: Food & Memories The Rosh Chodesh group will meet on Thursday, December 13 from 7:00-9:30 p.m. This is our Chanukah meeting - Food and Memories. We will share family recipes, photos of the cooks and make sufganiot! This meeting is open to all women of Netivot Shalom. For additional information, contact Toby Gidal, tgidal@home.com.

Chanukah Schmooze & Fun! Come and celebrate as a community at Congregation Netivot Shalom's Chanukah Party SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9TH, 3:30-5:30 pm. In the shul library & classrooms

3:30	Snacks, Schmoozing, Storytelling, & Dreidel Games
4:00	Art activities & Fun for kids (ongoing), Social for teens & adults
4:30	Latkes for everyone, Chanukah Jeopardy Competition for kids grades 5-8. (Prizes will be awarded; Please see Lorraine in the school office for a study guide.)
5:00	Candle Lighting, Sing-along, Desserts
5:30	Clean up; Possible carpool to Union Square in San Francisco for the big candle lighting there.

Bring your chanukiah & candles and join us for a great afternoon. Please RSVP to Melissa at the synagogue offices with the number of people attending and the ages of any children. 549-9447, ext. 110.

See you there!

I have been thinking about the joke published in (the November) newsletter, and honestly, I'm pretty disappointed by it. There are many ex-Catholics in Netivot Shalom (myself included) and I think it's in poor taste to include this joke in an official publication.

I had heard the joke before, and I found it mildly funny before. Somehow, though, to see it printed in the official newsletter of the congregation raises my consciousness of the undertones. Basically, the joke is that the most ignorant Jew is smarter than the best Catholic. Imagine if you came across a church bulletin in which the roles were reversed...that an ignorant Catholic outsmarted Maimonides. Somehow, I don't think we'd find that funny and might even say it was anti-Semitic. Some things need to have a more intimate audience in which you can be sensitive to people's backgrounds to be able to see the humor. I would need to know that the person telling the joke had some appreciation of Catholicism to find it funny. There's nothing in this context to suggest that.

There's a big undercurrent of anti-Christian sentiment among Jewish communities, understandable given history. I've sat through more than my share of "why Jews are better than Christians" sermons and discussions. However, I think we at Netivot Shalom can be, and should be, above that. We have a very high percentage of converts in our congregation. I think one of the reasons many of us converts find Netivot Shalom to be such a special place is that it seems mostly free of the automatic, anti-Christian sentiment found in so many other Jewish communities. It, by and large, embraces people without as many pre-conceived notions.

Maybe we can use this as an opportunity to reflect that the strength of our Jewish identity, particularly in our very special congregation, doesn't have to be at the expense of other people's beliefs and religions.

The Site Work Group presented the final design plan for our new home at the congregational meeting on Sunday, November 11. Approximately 95 member households were present, representing about one quarter of Netivot Shalom's membership. This was an above-average turnout for a congregational meeting, underscoring the importance of this project to our community.

The plan was unveiled and explained by Ed Anisman, David Finn and Blair Prentice, members of the Site Work Group's design sub-team. First up was a discussion of the project's Design Parameters: the space requirements for various functions as determined by a thorough evaluation; the City of Berkeley's building and zoning requirements with which the design plan must comply; and considerations about our new neighborhood (and new neighbors). Next came detailed architectural drawings of the building and grounds and an explanation of the use of each individual space. Finally, we talked about the milestones along the way to our proposed move-in day in 2003, and about the budget and fundraising needs.

Feedback, Q&A and informal discussion continued for over an hour after the presentation, and I am very pleased that the response was overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic. If you were unable to attend the meeting, copies of the handouts are available in the office. And we continue to welcome your comments and questions at any time.

Much remains to be done, and the Site Work Group will be working hard on your behalf to turn our new home into a reality. Please continue to watch this space for more exciting developments on University Avenue, and for announcements about ways you can help. As always, feel free to contact me at MeresmanJ@aol.com.

• Architect Blair Prentice's rendering of the front view of the new University Avenue building.
• Architectural plan of the grounds.

Ashrei yoshvei vetecha - Happy are those who dwell in Your house. What an exciting time in our development as a shul community! As you know, our search for a permanent home has been a lengthy one. The number of person-hours that went into that search, negotiations for this site, securing a loan, and now continuing with the Site Work Group, the Design Sub-group, and those involved in the Capital Campaign is staggering.

We were treated to an amazing display of the fruits of that labor on November 11th, when the Design Sub-group unveiled the plans for our new building (see pages 6 & 7). It's been a little more than a year since Jean Bass Bradman saw the For Sale sign at the site on University Avenue, and yet here we are with plans developed by members who know our shul and our community, and who put in countless hours gathering input, analyzing the data, and designing a beautiful building that meets our needs.

Kudos to those visionaries who, years ago, realized the need for a permanent home for Netivot Shalom. I'd like to thank Rabbi Kelman, for breathing life into that vision, fleshing it out in drashot and during meetings, giving it substance and form. Kol hakavod to the former Building Committee for their tireless search over the years for a site that would meet our needs and our pocketbooks. Joe Meresman, and all of the members of the Site Work Group, jumped in and took on all aspects of this project as soon as we went into escrow on the property. I am in awe of Blair Prentice, David Finn, Ed Anisman and Bruce Starkman, the Design Sub-group, and what they've accomplished. Stan Moore, our fundraising consultant, and Adam Brown, his assistant, have kept us motivated in our Capital Campaign. The Chairs of our Capital Campaign, Ann Swidler, Art Braufman and Claudia Valas, and all of the other volunteers who continue the mission of soliciting pledges from our members are working hard to secure the funding to complete this project. Mike Irwin, our Campaign Treasurer, found the bank and negotiated our loan, and continues to track the progress of our campaign. At the congregational meeting Mike announced that we had reached the $2.7 million mark in pledges!

At the November 11th meeting we were presented not only with the design, but also with a project timeline. If all goes according to plan, we will be ready to move into our new building around Yamim Nora'im in 2003. There are two major factors that will facilitate meeting our projected deadlines. One factor is external: permits, planning commission, etc. Our able Design Sub-group is handling those aspects. The other factor is internal: raising the money necessary to complete this project. I'm asking that we all give our most careful consideration to the call for pledges to the Capital Campaign. If you've already pledged, could you consider increasing that pledge? Would you consider extending that pledge for another year or two? If you haven't yet been contacted for your pledge, please begin now to give careful thought and consideration to what you can do.

Our shul community is poised to become members of the greater community of Berkeley in a way that we've never been before. Our opportunities to provide programs and services to our members and to engage in Tikkun Olam will only increase when we are in a home of our own. ?

The Nominating Committee will be elected (per the Bylaws of the Congregation) at the Board meeting in November.

• A group from within the Congregation is interested in organizing a synagogue-endorsed Israel Action Committee. After some discussion it was decided not to endorse the IAC, also not to not endorse. The IAC may use Netivot Shalom space for meetings or Israel Education activities, but must be careful not to say that the event is one sponsored by Netivot Shalom.
• Eugene Berg, Treasurer, reported that we are on track with the Annual Budget.
• The Board did not accept a proposal by the Social Action Committee for a specific protocol to have the Congregation take policy stands on issues it defines as of public concern.
• George Gidal reported that the liaison relationship with Committee Chairs developed after the re-structuring of the Board is working well. Each of the committee Chairs felt that there was sufficient communication with them.
• The Design Sub-group of the Site Work Group reviewed the agenda for the Congregational meeting set for November 11th. They also presented and reviewed their design for the new building.
• The Board passed the following three motions:
  1. The Board of Directors approves the design for the development of the University Avenue site and authorizes the Site Work Group to develop a permit request for submission to the City of Berkeley, based on this design. Prior to submission to the City, the Site Work Group will present their submission to the Board for final approval.
  2. The Board of Directors believes that it would be mutually beneficial for Netivot Shalom and Berkeley Montessori School to coordinate development of their adjacent sites on University Avenue. Therefore, the Board authorizes the Site Work Group to work with Berk. Montessori School to develop two plans: a) A joint site development plan for drop-off/pick-up, parking, social hall patio, and landscaping.
     b)A joint site operations plan for access to and use of each other's indoor space. Upon their completion of these plans, the Site Work Group will bring these plans, along with a Memorandum of Understanding with Berkeley Montessori School, to the Board for approval.
  3. The Board of Directors supports plans for the City of Berkeley to develop the West Street/former Southern Pacific Right of Way as a Bicycle and Pedestrian Walkway.

Our recent discussion group successfully navigated through the most essential aspects of long term health care insurance and gently impressed upon us the necessity for evaluating the various plans available. The issues are so subjective, the various plans described so different, and some of the language so technical, that it is difficult to present a coherent picture of the presentation in a couple of short paragraphs. We learned that some aspects to think about when considering long term health care insurance are: 1) family medical history, 2) your personal medical history, 3) financial status, 4) possible heirs, 5) your relationship with your heirs, etc. We were very fortuante in that two speakers were present to provide a balanced view, and we thank them both immensely: Michael Jarnigan, an insurance agent specializing in senior long term care insurance, and Phil Epstein from the health insurance counseling and advocacy program (HICAP). Both offered their extensive knowledge and expertise. Brochures from the evening's discussion are available; please contact Iris Greenbaum if you are interested in receiving a copy of them: 524-8548.

Our next get together is planned for December 10 at 7:00 p.m. at the Netivot Shalom library. We are planning a Chanukah celebration. Please bring your chanukiot, tasty treats to share, and come to celebrate! Please RSVP to Iris Greenbaum 524-8548.

Hag Sameach!

Here is your chance to get involved by volunteering just a few hours per month. If you are interested in helping, contact Melissa at 549-9447, ext. 110.

Adam Brown, Stan's capable assistant, will continue to work on the campaign on a limited basis. Although the physical space of the campaign office closed on December 2nd, the phone and e-mail are still connected. Adam will be handling the ongoing process of recording pledges, sending out reminders to those members who chose options other than monthly ACH withdrawals for payment of their pledges, and will stay in close contact with Mike Irwin, our Campaign Treasurer.

Unfortunately, his mother, Emna Farin has been ill for the past month with a problem that has left her anemic. But she is slowly recovering and looking forward to seeing her son on the bimah in December.

In other news in the community, two babies are due to be born in January; one to Betty Delgado Farin, and the other to Yurina Santesteban, the sister of Nili Behar who has now moved to Israel. Both of these mothers-to-be take part in synagogue life in one way or another and both need assistance, such as pediatric vitamins, Tylenol, thermometer, teething rings, Desitin, medicated baby powder, and a myriad of other baby things that I no longer remember now that my baby is 32 years old.

I spoke with president Eugenia Farin recently. She asked me to tell all her sisters and brothers at Netivot Shalom that the Santiageros wish you all a very happy Chanukah and invite you to come visit them anytime and often.

First, let's clear up some of the confusion around when these holidays occur. Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret often get lumped together as one holiday. Officially, they are not. They are, rather, individual holidays which follow each other. Sukkot is a seven-day holiday, the last day of which is called Hoshana Raba (more on this below). Shemini Atzeret is a one-day holiday in Israel and two-day holiday in the Diaspora. It comes the day after Hoshana Raba. Like Rosh Hashana, Sukkot and Passover, it is celebrated an extra day in the Diaspora because of historic uncertainty around the calendar. (Did you ever wonder why Yom Kippur wasn't also observed for two days in the Diaspora?) Simchat Torah, a holiday with which we are all more familiar, is subsumed within Shemini Atzeret. In the Diaspora, Simchat Torah is the second day of Shemini Atzeret. In Israel it is celebrated on the same day as Shimeni Atzeret.

As mentioned, Hoshana Raba is the last day of Sukkot. The first day of Sukkot is considered a full holiday in Israel; the first two days are considered full holidays in the Diaspora. The remaining days of Sukkot - including the last day (Hoshana Raba) are considered half holidays (when it is permitted to work).

Many of us have taken part in the "hakafot" at Sukkot. This procession around the synagogue waving the lulav commemorates the procession around the Temple during biblical times. During these processions the people would sing Psalm 118:25: "Ana Adonai Hoshia Na," "Please, God, please save us" which got shortened to "Hoshana" ("Hosanna" in English). The last day of Sukkot was given special sanctity by the prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi and the Temple would be circuited seven times, thus the name "Hoshana Raba" ("the great Hoshana"). Hoshana Raba came to be viewed as a "second Yom Kippur" when the final judgment of God would be sealed. There have been numerous popular customs developed around this belief that the verdict of a person's behavior was passed on Yom Kippur and "sealed" on Hoshana Raba. In some communities candles were lit, in some the chazzan wore a white robe, and in some the shofar was blown. Special challot were baked with a hand on the top; the hand represented the acceptance of the document on which the verdict was recorded. There was an ancient belief that the Sukkot holiday was the time in which it was determined how much rain would fall, and this led to the prayer for rain following Sukkot (on Shemini Atzeret - see below).

The seven hakafot of Hoshana Raba were thought to be so important that the calendar was set so that it would never fall on Shabbat, when hakafot are not conducted. Paradoxically, in our congregation this means that we don't observe Hoshana Raba unless it should happen to fall on a Wednesday. As a minor holiday in a series of major holidays, it gets ignored because of what comes before and after it.

Shemini Atzeret is mentioned twice in the Torah, first in Leviticus 23:36: "On the eighth day shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall bring an offering made by fire unto the Lord; it is a day of solemn assembly; ye shall do no manner of servile work." It also appears in Numbers 29:35-36, where the Israelites are again told not to work and the nature of the sacrifices they are to make. Herein probably lies the confusion between Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret: the "eighth day" of what? Of Sukkot. But again, this holiday is to be treated as a separate festival, "regal bifnei etzmo." It contains none of the Sukkot ceremonies, such as hakafot or eating in a sukkah. Its name comes from the words "atzeret" (assembly) and "shemini" (eighth).

Shemini Atzeret liturgy is notable for three things: Yizkor, Kohelet, and the prayer for rain. Yizkor services are held four times throughout the year: on Yom Kippur, the eighth day of Passover, the second day of Shavuot, and Shemini Atzeret. Again the conflation with Sukkot is evident here: the conclusion of a holiday was considered to be a more propitious time for Yizkor (thus the end of Passover and Shavuot) and the rabbis of the Talmud treated Shemini Atzeret as the end of Sukkot, so Yizkor was held on this day.

Kohelet is read on Shemini Atzeret because its depressive tone was thought to fit the somber end of an intense period of soul searching through the Yamim Nora'im. Others believe it was read to strike a balance to the lighter, more joyous mood of Sukkot. If one of the intermediate days of Sukkot falls on Shabbat, Kohelet is read then rather than on Shemini Atzeret (another blurring of the separateness of the two holidays).

Finally, the prayer for rain ("Tefillat HaGeshem"): This prayer for return of the wind and rain is recited during the Musaf service on Shemini Atzeret and is then mentioned in the three daily amidot ("mashiv ha ruach umorid hageshem") until the first day of Passover. Its purpose to the agricultural society of ancient Israel (and to the agriculture of modern Israel) is clear: "For a blessing and not a curse, for life and not for death, for plenty and not for famine. Amen." Prayers for rain are among the earliest liturgical texts and drought in the Tanach is considered punishment from God. While the Shemeni Azeret-Passover dates were chosen with Israeli agriculture in mind, later rabbinic authorities decreed that wherever rain is beneficial "out of season" (e.g., in the summer) prayers for rain may be inserted.?

Elbogen, I. (1993). Jewish Liturgy: A Comprehensive History. (R. Scheindlin, Trans.). Jewish Publication Society. (Original work published 1931).

Encyclopedia Judaica.

Hertz, J. (1972). The Pentateuch and Haftorahs. London: Soncino Press.

Kolatch, A. (1981). The Jewish Book of Why. Middle Village, NY: Jonathan David Publishers, Inc.

Telushkin, J. (1991). Jewish Literacy. New York: William Morrow & Co.