JAH #Rastafari #SheminiAtzeret "8th Day Assembly" #blackjews @LOJS

Shemini Atzeret

Torah: Deut. 14:22-16:17; Num. 29:35-30:1

Prophets: 1 Kings 8:54-8:66

New Testament: Matt. 17:1-9; Mark 12:28-33

The seven days of Sukkot that end with Hoshana Rabba are immediately followed by another holiday called Shemini Atzeret, referred to in the Torah (Numbers 29:35) simply as "the eighth day of assembly." The sages interpreted this to mean that God asks all who made pilgrimage for Sukkot to tarry (atzeret, which comes from the Hebrew root word meaning "to hold back") with Him one additional day. 

Tefillat Geshem
Shemini Atzeret is perhaps best known for the tefillat geshem, or "the prayer for rain," recited during the Musaf service (an additional prayer service recited right after the morning service). The prayer for rain is inserted in the second section of the Amidah (or Shmoneh Esrei) where the phrase "Mashiv HaRuach U'Morid HaGeshem" [who makes the wind blow and makes the rain descend] is added to the blessing. This addition to the wording of the Amidah is hereafter recited until Pesach.

In addition, in Temple times during the week of Sukkot seventy bulls were sacrificed as Musaf offerings on the altar (for the seventy nations of the earth), but on Shemini Atzeret only one bull was sacrificed - for Israel alone:

"You may compare it to a king who had a festival for seven days and invited all the nations of the world to the seven days of feasting. When the seven days were over and the guests had gone, he said to his friend (Israel), 'Let us now have a small meal together, just you and I.'" (Bamidbar Rabbah 21, Sukkah 55b)