Harvest, Rain, and Renewal: Embracing the Elements of the Fall Jewish Holidays

There are three Fall holidays left to experience and celebrate in the Jewish calendar. Tonight begins the holiday of Sukkot (October 16th through sundown October 23rd). Followed by Shemini Atzeret (Sundown October 23rd to sundown October 24th), and ending with Simchat Torah (Sundown October 24th to sundown October 25th).

Sukkot (The Festival of Booths): Earth

Traditional Theme: One of the core commandments of Sukkot is to build a Sukkah, literally a temporary dwelling as a reminder of Jewish ancestors who once wandered in the desert, and of the farmers who lived in temporary dwellings during the Harvest.

Earth Connection: Focusing on the Harvest aspect of the holiday, and our deeper responsibility to care for the Earth, let Sukkot remind us to own this essential responsibility. If the earth thrives, so will we.

Shemini Atzeret (8th Day of Assembly/Gathering): Water

Traditional Theme: One of the core traditions of Shemini Atzeret is to pray for rain, reflecting back to the agricultural roots of the holiday. 

Water Connection: Rain and water are the foundation for many living things and also represent one of the most sacred elements in our world. Water is used to drink, cleanse, grow, and rejuvenate. Let Shemini Atzeret remind us this year to take the time to cleanse and rejuvenate, so we can continue to grow.

Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Torah): Air/Breath/Spirit

Traditional Theme: Simchat Torah marks reaching the end of the Torah cycle and beginning again.

Air Connection: The Hebrew word Ruach, can be interpreted as wind, breath, or spirit. The Torah is the life’s breath, and spirit of the Jewish People. Every year through the centuries Jewish People read the Torah (The Five Books of Moses) over and over again. There is power in a never-ending cycle of knowledge. Noticing new details, learning new lessons from the words each time the Torah is read. Simchat Torah is our reminder that the traditions that we end and begin again and again, fuel our spirits, and allow us to grow and thrive.

We cannot function without the elements of earth, water, and air. They are central to our basic needs. May the elements of the last of the Fall holidays remind us to nourish our responsibility towards the earth, ourselves, and our traditions.

Chag Sameach! Happy Holidays!

Click the links below for an even deeper dive into these holidays:

PJ Library

Sukkot

Shemini Atzeret

Simchat Torah

My Jewish Learning

Sukkot

Shemini Atzeret

Simchat Torah

Exploring Judaism 

Sukkot

Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah