Shemini Atzeret marks the end of the season of our Yamim Tovim. The season began with the Yemei Haslichot, Rosh Hashana, the Aseret Yemei Teshuva and Yom Kippur. It continued with Sukot and Shemini Atzeret-Simchat Torah. The literal meaning of ATZERET is "restraint". There are various interpretations as to why the term Atzeret is applied to the day immediately after Sukot, which is called Shemini Atzeret. 

 

One reason behind using here the term ATZERET  or restraint is that this word refers to holding on to the spiritual joy and holiness, achieved during this past month of Yamim Tovim. There is a risk that once the Festivals are behind us, and we return to our daily lives, we may become so absorbed in our mundane activities that we may lose all the spiritual treasures, acquired during the Yamim Tovim. 

 

If one seals a bottle of expensive wine, it will save the aroma and the quality will be preserved. So too, when taking in the end of Yom Tov, we should make this last day of the Festivals into ATZERET, a seal that will retain all that we have accomplished during Tishrei. Just as it is wise to earn and to save our earnings, so too it's wise to achieve spirituality and to save it. 

 

The truth is, however, that Shemini Atzeret isn't just the end of the Tishrei season of Yamim Tovim. It actually concludes the entire year of the Yamim Tovim. Pesach actually begins the cycle, followed by Shavuot. Sukot and Shemini Atzeret complete the year's cycle of Yamim Tovim.  

 

The Talmud in Shabbat 31 tells the story of the potential GER, who came to Hillel and asked him to convert him while he stood "AL REGEL ACHAT'' – on one foot. What did he mean by that? 

 

The Sfat Emet suggests the following explanation. This potential convert understood and appreciated that each Yom Tov experience is part of a process of spiritual growth that we are offered every year. It also seems that the highlight of that spiritual process would come at the very end of the Yom Tov cycle. This being so, the GER sought a way to skip the earlier Yamim Tovim and attempted to achieve all the spiritual growth, found in Shemini Atzeret, without the need of the other Yamim Tovim.

"Teach me AL REGEL ACHAT – while standing on one REGEL – Festival.  One Festival should suffice, if we go right to the climax." 

 

Hillel responded that this was impossible. The process of spiritual growth needs to be developed step by step in order to conserve and retain the spiritual treasures. 

   

Trying to achieve the DEVEKUT (close attachment) to G-d that comes with Shemini Atzeret, without building the foundation of that relationship, will end in failure. 

AL REGEL ACHAT – just one Festival is not how one achieves spiritual growth and commitment to G-d's Torah. We must achieve spirituality gradually, building to the climax of Shemini Atzeret. 

 

Now, as SHEMINI ATZERET and the Yom Tov cycle come to an end, we would like to hold on to the spirit of Yom Tov. Each and every one of us has to find the right and proper formula that works for him or her.