One Day More

                                                                                                        

Victor Hugo published Les Misérables in 1862, and it earned repute as one of the great novels of the nineteenth century. Eventually,ⁱ like other public domain stories,ⁱⁱ it became a Broadway musical, and one of the featured songs was entitled “One Day More.” It's a song which shows the determination of a number of French citizens faced by the uncertainty of revolution in eighteenth century France, and equally uncertain of their own fates, which might be changed significantly by the next day – a day to which they looked forward.

But the concept of anticipation of another day is far older than that. There is a midrash ⁱⁱⁱ that deals with the fact that Sukkot has one day more than, strictly speaking, belongs to it. Only after prescribing seven days for the holiday does the Bible specify the observance of Shmini Atzeret, the “eighth day of the assembly.” According to the Rabbis, that day results from HaShem's wish that Israel remain with Him for one more day.

I relate this story because it was the focus of a sermon which I heard a few days ago on the holiday. It was not new for me but it caused me to think about the premise, and I was troubled by it. After all, doesn't HaShem want us to remain with Him every day – not just the day after Sukkot? Of course He does. That's a basic precept of our religion.

The obvious explanation is that “one good deed leads to another,” or, in terms of Torah, mitzvah goreret mitzvah.^iv If we observe Shmini Atzeret correctly, we'll also properly observe the next day, and then the one after that. One day at a time, and each day that we remain with HaShem ensures that we will do the same on the next. We're on a roll.

We know that, however, and it remains true with or without the statement. In addition, it is true every day, not just on Sukkot, so why is it mentioned here? Probably because there is fear that we may be fatigued by the long sequence of holidays during the month of Tishray – a sequence that includes the two days of Rosh Hashanah (the new year), Yom Kippur (the day of atonement), and the seven day holiday of Sukkot. At other times of the year we're likely to look forward to holidays, while during this run we're awaiting their conclusion.

The last question, though, is the one that brings the most hope. Since we all know that HaShem wants us with Him at all times, why is it necessary to say so? Every day with Him is sacred and even more so if we observe His mitzvot. Why is it necessary for Him to ask us to stay with Him? Well, there's the reality that some of us stray, but more important is a reason that can be learned from Avot 3:18. There we learned, “Blessed is man, for he was created in HaShem's image. But it was by a special love that it was made known to man that he was created in HaShem's image.” Similarly Israel, who were HaShem's children and were given the Torah, learned that these blessings were theirs because of that love.

HaShem asked us to stay with Him on Shmini Atzeret specifically to indicate His love for us, and it is up to us to reciprocate by remaining true to Him through our observance of his holy days. All of them. Day by day. There is no need for uncertainty.

 

 

 

i        In 1985.

ii      As well as many that are still copyright protected.

iii     In Jewish teachings, a midrash is a story that explains some biblical text that may raise questions in the minds of readers. The explanations are often fanciful, but they contain spiritual messages that aid in the understanding of that text in the light of our traditions.

iv      The term “mitzvah” (plural: mitzvot) refers to a commandment given by G-d (HaShem) and the entire quotation means that the performance of one mitzvah will lead someone to the performance of another. That is the reward for the mitzvah. (The opposite is true as well.) It can be found in Avot (4.2), in the Talmud, and originated about two millennia ago.