Gershon Wolf Poet Rhyme

The Eighth Day

The orchards are bare
   Their branches picked clean
Vegetables all gathered
   Carrots. potatoes, beans

Israel's dwelt outdoors in 'booths'
   For the last seven days
The Festival of Tabernacles ending
   Today its very last day

There's been rejoicing and dancing
   Spirituality in abundant profundity
Blessings, prayers, ceremony
   To accompany gastronomic fecundity

Can it all be over, finished so soon
   To end with a whimper, instead of a bang
With the appearance of tonight's moon
   --Well, it's not!  God invites Israel to hang

   out with Him now indoors for one more long day
called 'Shemini Atseres,' which means the Eighth Day
   a day of unbridled joy, celebrated with the Torah
in circles of smiling faces, all dancing the hora!


    Happy Shemini Atseres and Simchas Torah!
       Sunday evening, October 20 through
        Tuesday evening, October 22, 2019


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Torah = A parchment scroll on which the Old Testament is written in Hebrew
Simchas Torah = Rejoicing with the Torah/Law

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Lindsay Laurie October 22, 2019 at 7:21 PM Hello Gershon … interesting indeed Gershon, and well presented Gershon. I'm sorry for my ignorance. I'd never heard of this festival before - Lindsay Gershon Wolf October 22, 2019 at 9:11 PM Please do not feel 'ignorant,' my good friend. Many Jews, born into the faith, have neither heard of Shemini Atseres or celebrate it. You can now consider yourself among the elite few who know about it worldwide! Smiles, Gershon

M. L. Kiser October 21, 2019 at 8:35 PM And a joyous celebration it must've been; you've penned it with a great deal of elation. Beautiful. Gershon Wolf October 22, 2019 at 9:09 PM You're right, M.L. It is, indeed a joyous celebration, just concluded a short while ago. Back to 'normal' now, albeit elevated. Warmest wishes, Gershon

P.S. Awtry October 21, 2019 at 1:56 AM I think it no accident that this sounds heavenly :) Gershon Wolf October 22, 2019 at 9:09 PM Oh, this comment has made my evening, P.S. Thank you so, so much! Blessings, Gershon

Kim Rodrigues October 20, 2019 at 8:18 PM Thanks for letting us share the joy with you via your poem :) Gershon Wolf October 22, 2019 at 9:08 PM My privilege and good fortune to be able to do so in this small way. Thanks for reading and commenting, my dear friend. Cheers, Gershon