Shabbat Hol HaMoed Sukkot: Exodus 33; 12-34:26• Numbers 29:26-34; Ezekiel 38:18-39:16 RABBI NORMAN ROMAN Special to The Jewish News I BEGINNING WEEK OF OCTOBER 24TH SOUTHFIELD CAMPUS CLASSES HOUR TITLE 7-8 Hebrew I 7-8 Hebrew II 7-8 Ecology & Judaism 8-9 Genesis HOUR TITLE 7-8 7-8 7-8 7:15-8:45 7:45-9:15 8-9 Mysticism & Kabbala Parashat Hashavuah Torah Tunes Don't Grieve Broken Ties Beit Midrash* * Beit Midrash Cosponsored by Eilu V'Eilu remember the dialogue session well although it took place more than 30 years ago. Two respected, learned Jewish scholars, who had been study part- ners at the yeshiva in New York, came together in Cleveland for a Shabbat afternoon presentation dur- ing the festival of Sukkot. One of them was now a leading Orthodox rabbi and day school prin- cipal; the other was my congrega- tion's Reform rabbi. As old friends, they reminisced a little as friends tend to do; they argued a lot, l'shem shamayim (for the sake of heaven). The conversation moved quickly from the stories of Chasidim to bib- lical criticism, the credibility of cul- rural versus political Zionism, to how the Jewish community should respond to American civil rights issues and our responsibility to Soviet Jewry. The hour grew late and people pre- pared to depart the temple's library. One voice pleaded, "Can't we contin- ue this a while longer? For me, this is real `Sukkat shalom,' a shelter of peace and friendship!" Another voice began to sing a. supporting lyric from a then- popular song, "Why don't you stay just a little bit longer?" Smiling broadly, one of the rabbis restarted the dialogue by paraphras- ing Rashi, "What is the basis for Shemini Atzeret at the end of the seven-day Sukkot festival? It's almost as if God is politely requesting the Jewish people to 'stay just a little bit longer' after Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. The Eternal One has seen so much of us lately that it will be difficult to be without us." Rashi interprets the verse con- cerning the eighth day Sukkot sacri- fices as if God says, "Your leaving is hard for me; please stay one more day. He quotes the Midrash, which Norman Roman is rabbi of Temple Kol Ami. - - includes a parable to explain the term atzeret, which means to stop or hold back; it is like a king who invit- ed guests to a-feast for a certain number of days. At the end of the designated period as the guests were ready to leave, the king pleaded with them to 'stay one more day. "It is so difficult for me to see you leave." On that Shabbat Hol HaMoed in Cleveland, the second rabbi gave a • further interpretation of this thought which has remained with me ever since. In the Midrash, God admits, "It is so hard for me to see you leave." But the phrase could also be legiti- mately translated as, "It is so hard for me to see you separated from each other." Shemini Atzeret should com- bat the divisiveness and conflict which is all too characteristic of our commu- nity. The last and greatest act of Sukkot must be a gesture toward soli- darity and mutual respect. My rabbis continued their dia- logue, excitedly building upon the other's words and passion. All of us know the talmudic story of the prospective proselyte who wants Hillel to teach him the entire Torah while he stands on one foot. But did we also remember that regel means 4 ► holiday? Perhaps the proselyte was asking the true reason for Shemini Aztzeret, for Torah does not actually give us a reason in the text. So the kind, gentle and wise Hillel answers with the familiar phrase, "What is hateful to you, do not do to others." In other words, let us remove those aspects of our relationships which cause hatred because God is saying, "Your separation is painful for me. In this new year of 5759, let us recognize how hard it is for God to see us leaving the divine presence at this season of joy. Let us also be reminded that it is just as painful for God to see our separation from one another. Let us work toward the establishment of true Sukkat shalom for all Jews. El • " Conversations What is the meaning of `Sukkat shalom' and why is it important? According to Rashi, what is the basis for concluding the seven-day Sukkot festival with Shemini Aztzeret? What did Hillel tell the proselyte who seemed to be ask- ing about the true reason for Shemini Aztzeret?