Every year we start with a new book. Many good entries in our diary are there, as are many scratched out passages, some days are missing, and others are stained and torn. On some pages there are poetic verses describing success and on others painful passages recounting our failures.
Each of us carries our own book with its unique title and content; none of us are able to perceive what is written in the secret pages of the volumes of those around us – not truly.
On Rosh Hashanah the books are opened and the whole world is judged, and the consequences of our actions are considered by Hashem, who sits as both judge, jury and in some instances executioner.
During the 10 days of Teshuvah we focus on growing and try to show the heavenly court that we truly mean business.
On Yom Kippur we petition and plead, we ask for forgiveness and fast to arouse our heart towards Teshuvah (repentance) and promise to build a new life where the good is retained and the evil and mistakes we have made are not repeated.
On Sukkot we build a new space, a sacred space within this world for the Shechinah to dwell, we wave and shake the Lulav & Etrog in all four cardinal directions symbolizing the sending of the evil winds and dew away from us and drawing positivity instead.
We celebrate the days of Chol HaMoed where we eat and spend time in the Sukkah and focus on our families and community.
Finally, on Shemini Atzeret we bless the rain and give a seal to the work that began in the month of Elul, we celebrate the completion of the Torah and dance with the scrolls showing them to be the focus and joy in our lives.
When we need to send an important letter we begin with a fresh new page of high-quality paper, we make sure that we know the content and tone of what we wish to express, using the finest calligraphy and penmanship we carefully write the letter.
We check the letter to ensure that there are no mistakes or spelling errors, we carefully fold the letter and place it inside an equally clean and beautiful envelope. Making sure we write the correct address so that the letter will arrive at the correct recipient, we then seal the envelope and place the final seal and stamp.
Shemini Atzeret is the seal of the work that we have undertaken since the start of the month Elul and the end of that process, and aside from dancing with the Torah we ensure that everyone is called up to the Torah for an Aliyah, our hope is that everyone will have an Aliyah-ascent in life and that the year will be filled with Simcha- Happiness!
Shabbat Shalom & Hag Sameach!
Rabbi Refael Cohen