Pure yom tov — no props

On each yom tov there are special mitzvot associated with the day. On Pesach there is matzo, as well as the Paschal lamb, the Haggadah, the seder and its trappings. On Chol Hamoed Pesach, there is the Korban Omer, the barley offering. On Shavuos, the two wheat loaves were offered, as well as the celebration of the giving of the Torah. Rosh Hashanah has the shofar. Yom Kippur has the fast and the Avoda, the special service of the day — the only day when the high priest entered the Sanctum Sanctorum. Sukos has the sukkah, the lulav and the other species, and the Nisuch Hamayim, pouring of the water and its accompanying ceremonies. Then comes Shemini Atzeres, the final holiday. But no mitzvah is associated with it. Of course there is Shabason, work is forbidden. Of course there is simchas yom tov, one must enjoy yom tov. But these are not unique to this day.

Shemini Atzeres has no props. It is not a continuation of Sukkos. On the contrary, it is forbidden to sleep in the sukkah on Shemini Atzeres, a violation of bal tosif, do not add to a mitzvah. Similarly, one may not take the four species on this day.

Aha! This might be the mitzvah of the day. A negative. Do not try to add anything. Leave it alone. Leave it as a mitzvah of yom tov.

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The temptation to add a mitzvah, or to add to a mitzvah, comes from a couple of natural tendencies. First, it can engender a feeling of self-worth. A feeling of “power” and relevance when one thinks they just created a mitzvah: “I added a new mitzvah. Wow, look at my creativity and originality!”

It also has an element of underappreciation of the basic mitzvah — the feeling that it is not enough. The Torah wants people to stop and reflect on the basic mitzvah. With recognition of its beauty and grandeur there is no purpose nor desire to augment it or to extend it. Augmentation implies that it is too small. Thus, one has belittled the Torah mitzvah.

This is Shemini Atzeres. Just the mitzvah. Yom tov. No props. No distractions with the practical physical or spiritual rituals of the other yomim tovim. Enjoy time with Hashem, the essence of every moed. Moed is from the Hebrew root vaad, to meet. It is a meeting with Hashem. With no props, one can focus on the basic moed.

Specifically, when the cycle of holidays ends, there is a “regel bifnei atzmo,” a holiday on its own. It is also considered an all-encompassing holiday (Ramban, R SR Hirsch). All goes according to the ending!

It serves as back-up and make-up for anything missed in the others. Perhaps because it has no special mitzvos, it has room for other thoughts.

Maharal explains that the natural order is confined to sevens, as in a seven-day week, or a six-sided, three-dimensional cube held together by the seventh in the center. Eight is above and beyond nature. This eighth day holiday rises above the material, physical mitzvah articles. It becomes purely spiritual. This prepares us for the mundane chol of the ordinary days to come. This is the culmination of the holiday preparation for the mundane to follow. And it is the spiritual highpoint of them all. It needs no props, for it stands alone in its splendor and grace, the plain audience with Hashem in a sparse space with nothing to distract. PJC

Rabbi Shimon Silver is the spiritual leader of Young Israel of Greater Pittsburgh. This column is a service of the Vaad Harabonim of Greater Pittsburgh.