Shmini Atzeres 5770

A fascinating day this Shmini Atzeres. No mitzvos . No Lulav, no Succah (although outside Israel we sit in a succah but without reciting a bracha). No Matza, no Shofar, no Menorah and no Megillah. Just a day of prayer and feasting and most importantly being together. The Midrash tells us that after 7 weeks of closeness starting with the month of Elul the last three weeks of intense interaction with Hashem beginning with Rosh Hashanah it's time to go home. In ancient Israel it was time to pack our bags and leave Jerusalem and head back to Tiberius or Babylon. Figuratively it is time for us to resume a schedule that focuses on the mundane 6 day work week which is not superseded by concerns of teshuva repentance or buying a big enough brisket. It is sad because it has been a wonderful visit being so close to Hashem for these past weeks. It is sad for Hashem also. So sad that He cannot let go. So He says "our separation is difficult. Spend just one more day with me" And what will we do on that day? We will be together, that’s all. Hence Shmini Atzseres.




The idea of a day of closeness without Mitzvos is really very tantalizing. Normally we would think that only through the performance of a mitzvah can we be close to Hashem. Whether it is Torah study or helping the sick, we, as physical beings have to be doing something we are instructed to do to experience closeness. When I am together with my wife we are close. When I am writing her a letter from far away we are close. When I am putting in a new light bulb in her closet I am close because I am doing an act of service. But enjoying my lunch, how does that make me close?



In order understand this we have to understand the concepts of chomer -matter and tzurah - form. These ideas are discussed at length in the works of the Maharal of Prague 16th cent. and Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin 18th cent. Chomer is the material of existence. It is what was created in the Beginning. G-d then gave the matter form in the ensuing six days. Why did Hashem create matter altogether? The answer is : To be used by man (whose body is a product of that matter) to bring out the Godliness in all matter. All matter is Godly being a direct result of G-ds directive that it should be. How do I use it? Sometime G-d explicitly instructs us. On the first of Tishrei the ram’s horn is to be blown. On the 15th of that month the palm frond is to be waved. I take matter - chomer a lifeless palm frond and give it tzurah for as a tool of Godly service.

More often however I take the chomer of life my automobile, my pen, my shovel and give them tzurah by using them to develop the world and sustain myself and my loved ones so that we may serve Hashem. Of course Chomer resists Tzurah as does all matter which prefers to remain inert and not stand up against the forces of gravity. Sometimes we find we prefer to go with the chomer flow and be comfortable. It is truly a challenge but a challenge that Hashem felt was worthwhile because without chomer we have nothing to give tzurah to.

Shmini Atzeres is the model for this type of activity. No particular mitzvah just celebrating the day thereby experiencing closeness. When someone is exercising, working, shopping and their intention is to make a better life for their spouse and family they are close to their loved ones at that time.

The shul is a similar type activity. In the shul we can do many mitzvos wherein we are directed to take chomer and give it tzurah. The Torah, the tallis, the shofar, the minyan. But the shul goes way beyond that. We give tzurah to a cup of wine by reciting Kiddush over it but Sharon Fleitman gives tzurah to chomer in Costco by shopping for Kiddush. Amanda B and Kris S. and a rotating corps of volunteers give tzurah to cakes and cookies by setting them out tastefully so that we can make brachos over them and fulfill the mitzvah of Kiddush at a meal. And Carla H. solicits sponsorships of that most chomer of chomers, money to pay for the Kiddush. Randy Shaw, Lester Czuper, Steve H. Gershon R. do the same every shabbos afternoon for shalosh seudos. And Terry T. donates the rolls.

Even dust is chomer. How would you give that tzurah? Laura Drukman comes in every week to tidy up the shul and dust the ark. She brings her boys along also to teach them the art of giving tzurah to chomer.



Susan Krohn knows how to give tzurah to cloth. She sewed the shabbos table cloths for the dome tables and tomorrow we will see the names of children in our congregation embroidered on the large Kol hanearim talis.

Computers are a chomer that can take on a myriad of tzuros. Steve Ellenoff, Julia Patterson and Gary Lips make sure that the tzurah is the one that the office needs to function and keep the shul operating. And speaking of the office Carollete R., Lora S. ,Elizibeth S., Marina Vainer , Raise Pinchasov Bernice P., Linda M., Linda A., Dianne B., Renee H., Yael N., Wendy Sh. fold flyers, stuff envelopes, answer phones, and enable Cory to do her job.

It is a mitzvah to pray. If you are going to do it you need a siddur. Sometimes the chomer of the siddur loses its tzurah and pages fall out. Arnold Coleman repairs our sidurim and chumashim.

Jeff Taratoot Karen Chen and Rabbi Michoel Friedman are marketers and graphic artists. They take chomer colors and lines and gives them tzuros that have meaning. When David Weissmann called for a new branding for the shul they made it happen.

There is a young fellow who works at Ga. Perimeter College named Natan Starkman. He doesn’t live here but he davens here weekday mornings before going to work. Every day he takes time to fold the taleisim so that they look nice and the mitzvah is respectable.

Vegetation is a bunch of chomer. Look around the shul grounds and appreciate the beautiful tzurah. Aaron V. Michael R. and their families make it happen.

What about youth committee, chesed committee, chevra kadish and our entire board who use so many of their talents to give Cong. Ariel a tzurah.



What is the tzurah, What is our form? The name Ariel means lion of G-d because the Temple in Jerusalem as viewed from above has the form of a crouching lion. All of these people and some many more who do things large and small make this small shul a lion of G-d. That is the way it began. Then we became deluded by the chomer and let it take its own form thinking we could hire someone to do it whatever the it is. Then Hashem woke us up. He said I like the shape that Scott Italiaander and Michael Yashik Danny Frank and Andy Grant Nechemian and Yondi K give to the succah.

All of you in so many ways that is the beauty of the Ariel. That is why we celebrate shmini Atzeres to be together for just one more day doing what ? Being together.

Gut Yom tov