JAH Shemini Atzeret | Rastafari Eighth Day Assembly #BlackJews @LOJSociety

JAH Shemini Atzeret | Rastafari Eighth Day Assembly #BlackJews @LOJSociety 

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

Prophets: I KIngs 8:54-66

New Testament: Matthew 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.

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). In Israel, crops planted in the spring (aviv) depend on the rainfall that occurs in the fall (tsav). Moreover, according to Jewish tradition, all the world is judged at this time regarding the amount of rainfall to be given for the coming year. 

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.

Shemini Atzeret suggests the image of "remaining" or "abiding" (atzeret) an extra "day" with the LORD, beyond the seven days of fullness represented by the seven days of Sukkot. Since Sukkot represents the olam habah and the millennial reign of the Mashiach Yeshua in the soon-coming Kingdom, Shemini Atzeret represents the eternal state of perfection, the Day of the new heavens and new earth