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Week of October 3, 2026

Shmini Atzeret

שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת

This week’s parsha

This year Shemini Atzeres falls on Shabbos, so we lein from Re'eh, starting at the tithe. It is a leining about a full barn and an open hand: the tithe eaten with joy, debts released in the seventh year, a servant sent free with gifts, and the three festivals, each with room at the table for the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow. The maftir brings us to today, the eighth day, when the offering shrinks to one bull and one ram.

שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֗ים תָּחֹג֙ לַיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בַּמָּק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה כִּ֣י יְבָרֶכְךָ֞ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ בְּכֹ֤ל תְּבוּאָֽתְךָ֙ וּבְכֹל֙ מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָדֶ֔יךָ וְהָיִ֖יתָ אַ֥ךְ שָׂמֵֽחַ׃

Seven days are you to be festive for Adonoy, your God, in the place Adonoy chooses, for Adonoy, your God, will bless you in all your produce and in all your endeavors; and you shall experience pure joy.

Deuteronomy 16:15

This week’s songs

New songs for this parsha — the words of the pesukim and the vorts of the mefarshim below, set to be sung. Paste any of them into Suno with its style line and you have the niggun.

Bayom Hashmini

Lyrics & style line

Style for Suno

slow hartzig chassidic kumzitz niggun, nylon acoustic guitar, soft cello and strings, one answering clarinet, brushed cajon, deep warm male baritone lead with low male humming harmonies, opens almost whispered and builds to a full-voiced peak, minor key lifting to major, warm intimate live-room sound

[Intro — one male voice, spoken softly over a single guitar chord]

שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת — the seven days are over, and the King asks us to stay.

[Chorus — everyone together, slow and warm]

בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת —

on the eighth day, hold on, stay close.

פַּר אֶחָד אַיִל אֶחָד —

one bull, one ram, one people,

stay with Me one more day.

[Verse 1 — quiet, unhurried]

All the week of Sukkos,

Rashi says the offerings were many,

for all the nations of the world.

And when the guests got up to go,

Hashem said to His own,

make Me a small feast,

just you and Me alone.

[Chorus — everyone together, slow and warm]

בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת —

on the eighth day, hold on, stay close.

פַּר אֶחָד אַיִל אֶחָד —

one bull, one ram, one people,

stay with Me one more day.

[Verse 2 — a little fuller, harmonies enter]

Rashi says like children at the door,

about to leave their father's house,

and he says, parting is so hard for me,

please, stay one day more.

עֲצֶרֶת תִּהְיֶה לָכֶם —

a day held back, for you.

[Chorus — everyone together, slow and warm]

בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת —

on the eighth day, hold on, stay close.

פַּר אֶחָד אַיִל אֶחָד —

one bull, one ram, one people,

stay with Me one more day.

[Verse 3 — softer, almost whispered]

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְּחַגֶּךָ —

rejoice in your festival,

אַתָּה וּבִנְךָ וּבִתֶּךָ —

you, your son, your daughter,

the לֵוִי, the Levite, the גֵּר, the stranger,

the orphan and the widow.

Rashi says, four are Mine and four are yours,

make Mine glad, and I will make yours glad.

[Chorus — everyone together, slow and warm]

בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת —

on the eighth day, hold on, stay close.

פַּר אֶחָד אַיִל אֶחָד —

one bull, one ram, one people,

stay with Me one more day.

[Verse 4 — full voice, then pulling back]

וְהָיִיתָ אַךְ שָׂמֵחַ —

and you will be only joyful.

Rashi says, that is a promise,

not only a command,

and Sforno says, no sadness,

no sadness will come in.

[Chorus — everyone together, slow and warm]

בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת —

on the eighth day, hold on, stay close.

פַּר אֶחָד אַיִל אֶחָד —

one bull, one ram, one people,

stay with Me one more day.

[Outro — near silence, one voice, fading]

פַּר אֶחָד אַיִל אֶחָד —

one more day with Me.

Vesamachta Bechagecha

Lyrics & style line

Style for Suno

fast freilich Jewish wedding dance tune, bright clarinet lead trading with trumpet over accordion and upright bass, tight snare with hand claps and tambourine, male tenor lead with a big male call-and-response backing choir, major key, relentless joyful drive, punchy live band sound

[Intro — one male voice, spoken quickly over a single clarinet run]

שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת — a full barn, an open hand, and the whole year dancing, let's go!

[Chorus — full male choir, everyone together, loud and bouncing]

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְּחַגֶּךָ —

(rejoice!) rejoice in your festival!

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ אַתָּה וּבֵיתֶךָ —

you and your whole house! (your whole house!)

[Verse 1 — fast, driving, backing choir answering]

עַשֵּׂר תְּעַשֵּׂר — (a tenth!)

a tenth of all your grain, year by year!

Carry it up and eat it there, (eat it!)

לִפְנֵי הַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֶיךָ — before Hashem your God!

Too far to carry? Turn it into coins, (coins!)

buy what you want, and rejoice!

Don't forget the לֵוִי, the Levite, (the Levite!)

וְאָכְלוּ וְשָׂבֵעוּ — let them eat and be full!

[Chorus — full male choir, everyone together, loud and bouncing]

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְּחַגֶּךָ —

(rejoice!) rejoice in your festival!

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ אַתָּה וּבֵיתֶךָ —

you and your whole house! (your whole house!)

[Verse 2 — same drive, clarinet answering each line]

מִקֵּץ שֶׁבַע־שָׁנִים — (seven years!)

at the end of seven years, let the loans go!

פָּתֹחַ תִּפְתַּח אֶת־יָדְךָ — (open it!)

open up your hand, open it wide!

Six years a servant, the seventh he goes, (he goes!)

לֹא תְשַׁלְּחֶנּוּ רֵיקָם — don't send him empty-handed!

Sheep and grain and wine for him, (load him up!)

וְזָכַרְתָּ כִּי עֶבֶד הָיִיתָ — remember, you were a slave too!

[Chorus — full male choir, everyone together, loud and bouncing]

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְּחַגֶּךָ —

(rejoice!) rejoice in your festival!

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ אַתָּה וּבֵיתֶךָ —

you and your whole house! (your whole house!)

[Verse 3 — brighter, lifting]

כָּל־הַבְּכוֹר — every firstborn calf and lamb, (for Hashem!)

eat it there before Him, year by year!

שָׁמוֹר אֶת־חֹדֶשׁ הָאָבִיב — (springtime!)

guard the month of spring, and make a פֶּסַח!

Seven days of מַצּוֹת, (matzos!)

לֶחֶם עֹנִי — the bread of the hard times,

כִּי בְחִפָּזוֹן יָצָאתָ — you left in a hurry! (a hurry!)

[Chorus — full male choir, everyone together, loud and bouncing]

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְּחַגֶּךָ —

(rejoice!) rejoice in your festival!

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ אַתָּה וּבֵיתֶךָ —

you and your whole house! (your whole house!)

[Verse 4 — a breath quieter, then climbing back]

שִׁבְעָה שָׁבֻעֹת תִּסְפָּר־לָךְ — (count!)

seven weeks, count them for yourself!

וְעָשִׂיתָ חַג שָׁבֻעוֹת — (Shavuos!)

make the festival, give as He blessed you!

Your son, your daughter, the orphan, the widow, (everyone!)

all of them rejoicing in the place He chose!

[Chorus — full male choir, everyone together, loud and bouncing]

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְּחַגֶּךָ —

(rejoice!) rejoice in your festival!

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ אַתָּה וּבֵיתֶךָ —

you and your whole house! (your whole house!)

[Verse 5 — biggest, hands in the air]

חַג הַסֻּכֹּת תַּעֲשֶׂה לְךָ — (Sukkos!)

make Sukkos for yourself, seven days!

שָׁלוֹשׁ פְּעָמִים בַּשָּׁנָה — (three times!)

three times a year, come before Him,

not empty-handed, each one as he can! (as he can!)

And then the eighth day, one bull, one ram,

בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת — a day to stay! (to stay!)

[Chorus — full male choir, everyone together, loud and bouncing]

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְּחַגֶּךָ —

(rejoice!) rejoice in your festival!

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ אַתָּה וּבֵיתֶךָ —

you and your whole house! (your whole house!)

[Outro — clarinet screaming, male choir shouting the last line, hard stop]

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְּחַגֶּךָ —

rejoice! Hey!

Pasoach Tiftach

Lyrics & style line

Style for Suno

spoken-word storyteller over soft Jewish acoustic backing, fingerpicked nylon guitar, low upright bass, brushed drums, warm male narrator close to the mic, a sung male choir chorus with rich male harmony between the spoken sections, unhurried, cinematic and intimate

[Intro — male narrator, spoken warmly, guitar alone underneath]

שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת — sit down. Today's leining is a full barn, an open hand, and a table with room for everyone.

[Chorus — male choir, sung, warm and full]

פָּתֹחַ תִּפְתַּח אֶת־יָדְךָ —

open your hand, open it wide,

נָתוֹן תִּתֵּן לוֹ —

give, and give again,

and let your heart be glad inside.

[Spoken Word 1 — warm storyteller over soft guitar]

עַשֵּׂר תְּעַשֵּׂר — tithe, tithe, all that your field brings, year after year. Carry it up to the place Hashem chooses and eat it there, לְמַעַן תִּלְמַד לְיִרְאָה — so that you learn to fear Him. Sforno says that place also held the great court, where knowledge went out to everyone.

Road too long? Turn it into coins, go up, buy whatever you wish, וְשָׂמַחְתָּ אַתָּה וּבֵיתֶךָ — and rejoice, you and your household.

Don't forget the לֵוִי, the Levite. Every third year the tithe stays in town, for the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow. וְאָכְלוּ וְשָׂבֵעוּ — let them eat and be full.

[Chorus — male choir, sung, warm and full]

פָּתֹחַ תִּפְתַּח אֶת־יָדְךָ —

open your hand, open it wide,

נָתוֹן תִּתֵּן לוֹ —

give, and give again,

and let your heart be glad inside.

[Spoken Word 2 — steady, a little quicker, bass enters]

מִקֵּץ שֶׁבַע־שָׁנִים — at the end of seven years, the loans are let go.

If your brother is poor, לֹא תְאַמֵּץ אֶת־לְבָבְךָ — don't harden your heart. Rashi says some people stand and wonder, give or not. And some reach out a hand, and then close it. So open it. Rashi says, even many times. And if you meant to give and could not, Rashi says you are rewarded for meaning it.

A servant works six years, and in the seventh he goes free, and not empty-handed. Sheep, grain, wine. וְזָכַרְתָּ כִּי עֶבֶד הָיִיתָ — remember, you were a slave in Egypt. Rashi says: I loaded you with gifts, twice. Load him too.

And if he loves your house and wants to stay, his ear is pierced at the door, and he stays.

[Chorus — male choir, sung, warm and full]

פָּתֹחַ תִּפְתַּח אֶת־יָדְךָ —

open your hand, open it wide,

נָתוֹן תִּתֵּן לוֹ —

give, and give again,

and let your heart be glad inside.

[Spoken Word 3 — quieter, almost tender, drums brushed in]

Every firstborn of the herd and flock is holy, eaten before Hashem, year by year.

Then the year begins. שָׁמוֹר אֶת־חֹדֶשׁ הָאָבִיב — guard the month of spring, and make a פֶּסַח, because in that month Hashem took you out of מִצְרַיִם, at night.

Seven days of מַצּוֹת. לֶחֶם עֹנִי — Rashi says, bread that remembers the hard times. כִּי בְחִפָּזוֹן יָצָאתָ — because you left in a hurry, so you remember that day all your life.

[Chorus — male choir, sung, warm and full]

פָּתֹחַ תִּפְתַּח אֶת־יָדְךָ —

open your hand, open it wide,

נָתוֹן תִּתֵּן לוֹ —

give, and give again,

and let your heart be glad inside.

[Spoken Word 4 — opening up, fuller, joyful]

Count seven weeks from the first cut of the sickle, and make Shavuos, giving as He blessed you. And rejoice, you, your son, your daughter, your servants, the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, the widow. Rashi says, four are yours and four are Mine. Make Mine glad, and I will make yours glad.

Then Sukkos, seven days, when the barn is full. וְהָיִיתָ אַךְ שָׂמֵחַ — you will be only joyful. Sforno says: no sadness gets in.

שָׁלוֹשׁ פְּעָמִים בַּשָּׁנָה — three times a year, come before Him, and never empty-handed. אִישׁ כְּמַתְּנַת יָדוֹ — each one with what his hand can give.

[Chorus — male choir, sung, warm and full]

פָּתֹחַ תִּפְתַּח אֶת־יָדְךָ —

open your hand, open it wide,

נָתוֹן תִּתֵּן לוֹ —

give, and give again,

and let your heart be glad inside.

[Spoken Word 5 — slow, close, guitar almost gone]

And today. בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת — the eighth day, a day held back. Just one bull, one ram. Rashi says the King tells His children at the door: make Me a small feast, just us. Parting from you is hard for Me. Stay one day more.

And מֹשֶׁה told the people everything Hashem commanded.

[Chorus — male choir, sung, warm and full]

פָּתֹחַ תִּפְתַּח אֶת־יָדְךָ —

open your hand, open it wide,

נָתוֹן תִּתֵּן לוֹ —

give, and give again,

and let your heart be glad inside.

[Outro — male choir, sung, softer each time, fading]

פָּתֹחַ תִּפְתַּח —

open it wide.

open it wide.

Vehayisa Ach Sameach

Lyrics & style line

Style for Suno

anthemic stadium rock, driving distorted electric guitars with a big ringing delay lead, huge live drums, deep bass, male lead vocal with a massive male gang-vocal singalong choir, quiet clean-guitar verses building to an enormous soaring chorus, major key, wide arena reverb production

[Intro — one male voice, spoken low over a single clean guitar note]

שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת — the harvest is in, the seven days are done, and there is one thing left to be.

[Verse 1 — quiet, clean guitar only, restrained]

The threshing floor is full,

the wine press running over,

חַג הַסֻּכֹּת תַּעֲשֶׂה לְךָ —

seven days, make the festival,

כִּי יְבָרֶכְךָ הַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֶיךָ —

because Hashem your God will bless you.

[Pre-Chorus — drums enter, building hard]

In all your harvest, all your work,

וּבְכֹל מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶיךָ —

in everything your hands will do,

Sforno says no sadness will get in —

and this is what you'll be —

[Chorus — everyone together, massive male gang vocals, soaring]

וְהָיִיתָ אַךְ שָׂמֵחַ —

you will be only joyful!

Nothing but joy, nothing but joy,

וְהָיִיתָ אַךְ שָׂמֵחַ —

you will be only joyful!

[Verse 2 — quiet again, one guitar, voice close]

Your son, your daughter at your side,

וְהַלֵּוִי וְהַגֵּר —

the Levite and the stranger too,

the orphan and the widow at your table.

Rashi says, four are Mine and four are yours,

make Mine glad, and I will make yours glad.

[Pre-Chorus — drums enter, building hard]

Rashi says it is a promise,

not only a command —

and this is what you'll be —

[Chorus — everyone together, massive male gang vocals, soaring]

וְהָיִיתָ אַךְ שָׂמֵחַ —

you will be only joyful!

Nothing but joy, nothing but joy,

וְהָיִיתָ אַךְ שָׂמֵחַ —

you will be only joyful!

[Bridge — near silence, one voice and a single guitar, then everything explodes]

And on the eighth day,

עֲצֶרֶת תִּהְיֶה לָכֶם —

a day held back for you.

Rashi says He asks, make Me a small feast,

stay with Me one more day.

One more day! One more day!

[Chorus — everyone together, massive male gang vocals, soaring]

וְהָיִיתָ אַךְ שָׂמֵחַ —

you will be only joyful!

Nothing but joy, nothing but joy,

וְהָיִיתָ אַךְ שָׂמֵחַ —

you will be only joyful!

[Outro — guitars ringing out, choir dropping to one male voice, slow fade]

וְהָיִיתָ אַךְ שָׂמֵחַ —

only joyful.

The parsha in brief

When Shemini Atzeres falls on Shabbos, we open the Torah to Re'eh, and the leining begins in the field. You must tithe all the produce of your planting, year by year, and carry the tithe of your grain, your wine and your oil up to the place Hashem chooses, and eat it there before Him, so that you learn to fear Him all the years. Sforno says that place also held the great court, from which knowledge went out to everyone. If the road is too long to carry it all, you turn it into coins, bundle them in your hand, go up, and buy whatever you wish, cattle, sheep, wine, and you eat and rejoice, you and your household. You must not abandon the Levite in your city, and every third year the tithe stays at home, so the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow can come and eat their fill.

At the end of seven years comes shemitah, when every lender lets go of his loan. If one of your brothers is poor, do not harden your heart and do not close your hand. Rashi says some people stand and deliberate whether to give at all, and some reach out their hand and then close it, and the Torah speaks to both. Open your hand, and Rashi says, even many times. Give him, and let your heart not hurt when you give, and Rashi says that even one who meant to give and could not is rewarded for the intention. A Hebrew servant works six years and goes free in the seventh, and you do not send him away empty-handed: you load him with gifts from your flock, your threshing floor and your wine press. Remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and Rashi hears Hashem saying, I loaded you with good things, twice, so you load him too. If the servant says he loves your house and wants to stay, his ear is pierced at the door and he stays on.

Every firstborn male of your herd and flock is holy to Hashem, eaten before Him year by year; one with a blemish is eaten at home, and its blood poured on the ground like water. Then the Torah walks through the year. Guard the month of spring and make Pesach, for in that month Hashem took you out of Egypt at night. Seven days you eat matzos, bread of affliction, which Rashi says is bread that brings to mind the hard times in Egypt, because you left in haste, so that you remember the day you went out all the days of your life. The offering is brought only in the place Hashem chooses, at sunset, the hour you left, and the seventh day is a day held back for Hashem.

From the first cut of the sickle you count seven weeks and make Shavuos, giving as He has blessed you, and you rejoice with your son and daughter, your servants, and the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow. Rashi says those last four are Mine, corresponding to the four that are yours: if you gladden Mine, I will gladden yours. Then Sukkos, seven days, when the threshing floor and the wine press are full, and the Torah says you shall be only joyful. Rashi says that in its plain sense this is a promise, and Sforno says no sadness will intrude. Three times a year everyone comes before Hashem, and no one comes empty-handed, each man with the gift of his hand.

The maftir brings us to today: on the eighth day there shall be a day of restraint for you. All through Sukkos the offerings were many, and Rashi says they stood for the nations of the world; on the eighth day there is only one bull and one ram. Rashi says it is as though Hashem says, make Me a small feast, so that I may have joy from you alone, like children about to leave their father, who tells them, parting from you is hard for me, stay one day more. And Moshe told Bnei Yisroel all that Hashem had commanded him.

At the Shabbos table

  1. What does the Torah promise we will be on Sukkos?
  2. When a Hebrew servant goes free in the seventh year, how must he be sent away?
  3. Rashi says the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow are Hashem's four. What does Hashem promise if we make them happy?

Answers

  1. Only joyful — nothing but happy.
  2. Not empty-handed: he is given gifts from the flock, the threshing floor and the wine press.
  3. They correspond to our four — son, daughter, man-servant and maid-servant — and if we gladden His, He will gladden ours.

The whole parsha, aliyah by aliyah

All seven aliyos, in order, with the verse ranges as they are leined. The account of what happens stays to what the pesukim say; anything that explains why is quoted below.

  1. 1.The tithe eaten with joy

    Deuteronomy 14:22-14:29

    You must tithe all the produce of your planting, year by year. The tithe of your grain, wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your cattle and flocks, are eaten in the presence of Adonoy in the place He chooses, so that you learn to fear Him all the years. If the place is too far to carry it all, you exchange it for coins, bundle them in your hand, go up, and spend them on anything you wish, cattle, sheep, wine, and eat there and rejoice, you and your household. The Levite in your city must not be abandoned, for he has no portion. At the end of three years the tithe is set aside in your own city, and the Levite, the proselyte, the orphan and the widow come and eat their fill, so that Adonoy will bless you in all your endeavors.

    וְנָתַתָּ֣ה הַכֶּ֡סֶף בְּכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁר־תְּאַוֶּ֨ה נַפְשְׁךָ֜ בַּבָּקָ֣ר וּבַצֹּ֗אן וּבַיַּ֙יִן֙ וּבַשֵּׁכָ֔ר וּבְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּֽשְׁאָלְךָ֖ נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ וְאָכַ֣לְתָּ שָּׁ֗ם לִפְנֵי֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ וְשָׂמַחְתָּ֖ אַתָּ֥ה וּבֵיתֶֽךָ׃

    You will spend the money for anything you desire—for cattle, sheep, wine, intoxicating liquor—and for anything that you wish; and you will eat there in the presence of Adonoy, your God, and will rejoice, you and your household.

    Deuteronomy 14:26

  2. 2.Release, and an open hand

    Deuteronomy 15:1-15:18

    At the end of seven years you make shemitah: every creditor lets go of the loan he made to his neighbor. If there is someone destitute among your brothers, do not harden your heart or close your hand; you must surely open your hand and lend him enough for what he lacks. Beware of the thought that the seventh year is near and refusing him; give him, and let your heart not hurt when you give, for because of this Adonoy will bless you in all your work. A Hebrew servant serves six years and goes free in the seventh, and he is not sent away empty-handed but given generously from your flock, threshing floor and wine cellar, because you were a slave in Egypt and Adonoy redeemed you. If he says he loves you and your household and does not want to leave, his ear is pierced at the door with an awl and he stays on.

    כִּֽי־פָתֹ֧חַ תִּפְתַּ֛ח אֶת־יָדְךָ֖ ל֑וֹ וְהַעֲבֵט֙ תַּעֲבִיטֶ֔נּוּ דֵּ֚י מַחְסֹר֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֶחְסַ֖ר לֽוֹ׃

    Rather, you must surely open your hand generously to him, and you must surely extend a loan to him to cover the wants which he lacks.

    Deuteronomy 15:8

  3. 3.The firstborn animals

    Deuteronomy 15:19-15:23

    Every male firstborn of your cattle and flocks is consecrated to Adonoy; you may not work with a firstborn ox or shear a firstborn sheep. You and your household eat it before Adonoy, year by year, in the place He chooses. If it has a serious blemish, lame or blind, it is not offered, and it may be eaten in your own cities, like the deer and the gazelle. Only its blood is not eaten; it is poured on the ground like water.

    לִפְנֵי֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֤יךָ תֹאכֲלֶ֙נּוּ֙ שָׁנָ֣ה בְשָׁנָ֔ה בַּמָּק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה אַתָּ֖ה וּבֵיתֶֽךָ׃

    Before Adonoy, your God, you must eat it, each year, in the place that Adonoy chooses, you and your household.

    Deuteronomy 15:20

  4. 4.Pesach in the month of spring

    Deuteronomy 16:1-16:3

    Take heed of the month of spring and celebrate Pesach, for in the month of spring Adonoy took you out of Egypt at night. The pesach-offering is slaughtered in the place Adonoy chooses. No chometz is eaten with it; for seven days you eat matzos, bread of anguish, because you left the land of Egypt in haste, so that you remember the day of your exodus all the days of your life.

    לֹא־תֹאכַ֤ל עָלָיו֙ חָמֵ֔ץ שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֛ים תֹּֽאכַל־עָלָ֥יו מַצּ֖וֹת לֶ֣חֶם עֹ֑נִי כִּ֣י בְחִפָּז֗וֹן יָצָ֙אתָ֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם לְמַ֣עַן תִּזְכֹּר֔ אֶת־י֤וֹם צֵֽאתְךָ֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֥י חַיֶּֽיךָ׃

    Do not eat chometz on it; seven days are you to eat on it matzos, bread of anguish; since in haste you left the land of Egypt, so that you remember the day of your exodus from the land of Egypt all the days of your life.

    Deuteronomy 16:3

  5. 5.The offering in the chosen place

    Deuteronomy 16:4-16:8

    No sourdough may be seen in all your borders for seven days, and none of the offering's meat may be left until morning. The pesach may not be slaughtered in just any of your cities, only in the place Adonoy chooses, towards evening at sunset, the time you left Egypt. You cook it and eat it there, and in the morning you may go home. Six days you eat matzos, and the seventh day is a day of withdrawal for Adonoy, when you do no work.

    שֵׁ֥שֶׁת יָמִ֖ים תֹּאכַ֣ל מַצּ֑וֹת וּבַיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י עֲצֶ֙רֶת֙ לַיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לֹ֥א תַעֲשֶׂ֖ה מְלָאכָֽה׃ (ס)

    For six days you shall eat matzos, and on the seventh day, is one of withdrawal for the sake of Adonoy, your God, do not do work.

    Deuteronomy 16:8

  6. 6.Seven weeks to Shavuos

    Deuteronomy 16:9-16:12

    Count seven weeks, beginning from the time the sickle first cuts the standing grain. Then celebrate the festival of Shovuos for Adonoy, with an open-handed gift as He has blessed you. You rejoice before Adonoy, you, your son and daughter, your servants, and the Levite, the proselyte, the orphan and the widow among you, in the place He chooses. Remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and keep these statutes.

    וְשָׂמַחְתָּ֞ לִפְנֵ֣י ׀ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ אַתָּ֨ה וּבִנְךָ֣ וּבִתֶּךָ֮ וְעַבְדְּךָ֣ וַאֲמָתֶךָ֒ וְהַלֵּוִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּשְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ וְהַגֵּ֛ר וְהַיָּת֥וֹם וְהָאַלְמָנָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּקִרְבֶּ֑ךָ בַּמָּק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִבְחַר֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לְשַׁכֵּ֥ן שְׁמ֖וֹ שָֽׁם׃

    You are to rejoice in the presence of Adonoy, your God—you, and your son and your daughter, and your male slave and your female slave, and the Levite who is in your city, and the proselyte, and the orphan and the widow who are among you—in the place that Adonoy, your God, chooses to house His Presence there.

    Deuteronomy 16:11

  7. 7.Sukkos, and three times a year

    Deuteronomy 16:13-16:17

    Celebrate the festival of Sukkos seven days when you gather in from your threshing floor and wine press. You rejoice in your festival with your son and daughter, your servants, and the Levite, the proselyte, the orphan and the widow in your city. For seven days you are festive for Adonoy, for He will bless you in all your produce and all your endeavors, and you shall be only joyful. Three times a year, on Matzos, Shovuos and Sukkos, every male appears before Adonoy in the place He chooses, and not empty-handed: each according to the gift of his hand, as Adonoy has blessed him.

    שָׁל֣וֹשׁ פְּעָמִ֣ים ׀ בַּשָּׁנָ֡ה יֵרָאֶ֨ה כָל־זְכוּרְךָ֜ אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י ׀ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ בַּמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִבְחָ֔ר בְּחַ֧ג הַמַּצּ֛וֹת וּבְחַ֥ג הַשָּׁבֻע֖וֹת וּבְחַ֣ג הַסֻּכּ֑וֹת וְלֹ֧א יֵרָאֶ֛ה אֶת־פְּנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה רֵיקָֽם׃

    Three times a year are all your males to be seen in the presence of Adonoy, your God, in the place that He chooses—in the festival of Matzos, and on the festival of Shovuos, and on the festival of Sukkos—and he shall not appear in the presence of Adonoy empty-handed.

    Deuteronomy 16:16

  8. 8.Maftir: the eighth day

    Numbers 29:35-30:1

    On the eighth day there is a day of restraint for you, when no work of consequence is done. The burnt-offering is small: one young bull, one ram and seven yearling lambs, without blemish, with their meal-offerings and libations, and one he-goat as a sin-offering, besides the daily offering. These are the offerings of the festivals, aside from vows and dedications. And Moshe told Bnei Yisroel all that Adonoy had commanded him.

    בַּיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁמִינִ֔י עֲצֶ֖רֶת תִּהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם כָּל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת עֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֥א תַעֲשֽׂוּ׃

    On the eighth day shall be a [day of] restraint for you, when you shall not do any work of consequence.

    Numbers 29:35

From the mefarshim

Every one of these is the mefaresh’s own words, fetched and checked — not a summary.

  1. 1.Sforno — why the tithe is eaten in that place

    למען תלמד ליראה, for the site chosen by G’d for the Temple also houses the Supreme Court, Sanhedrin, from where knowledge and understanding is dispensed.

    Sforno on Deuteronomy 14:23:1

  2. 2.Rashi — the hand that opens and then closes

    לא תאמץ. יֵשׁ לְךָ אָדָם שֶׁמִּצְטַעֵר אִם יִתֵּן אִם לֹא יִתֵּן, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר "לֹא תְאַמֵּץ". יֵשׁ לְךָ שֶׁפּוֹשֵׁט אֶת יָדוֹ וְקוֹפְצָהּ, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר "לֹא תִקְפֹּץ" (שם):

    לא תאמץ THOU SHALT NOT MAKE [THY HEART] OBSTINATE — There are people who painfully deliberate whether they should give or not, therefore Scripture states, “thou shalt not make thy heart obstinate”; there again are people who stretch their hand forth (show readiness to give) but then close it, therefore it is written, “thou shalt not close thine hand” (Sifrei Devarim 116:10-11).

    Rashi on Deuteronomy 15:7:4

  3. 3.Rashi — open it, even many times

    פתח תפתח. אֲפִלּוּ כַמָּה פְעָמִים (שם):

    פתח תפתח [BUT] THOU SHALT SURELY OPEN [THINE HAND] — even many times (Sifrei Devarim 116:13).

    Rashi on Deuteronomy 15:8:1

  4. 4.Rashi — rewarded even for meaning to give

    כי בגלל הדבר. אֲפִלּוּ אָמַרְתָּ לִתֵּן, אַתָּה נוֹטֵל שְׂכַר הָאֲמִירָה עִם שְׂכַר הַמַּעֲשֶׂה (שם):

    כי בגלל הדבר הזה BECAUSE THAT FOR THIS THING [THE LORD THY GOD SHALL BLESS THEE] — (the word is taken in its literal sense of “word”, for it would have sufficed to state כי בגלל זה suggesting): even if you only say (intend) to give but are later unable to do so you will receive a reward for the mere saying (intention) together with the reward for the action (Sifrei Devarim 117:8).

    Rashi on Deuteronomy 15:10:3

  5. 5.Rashi — I loaded you with gifts, so load him

    וזכרת כי עבד היית. וְהֶעֱנַקְתִּי וְשָׁנִיתִי לְךָ מִבִּזַּת מִצְרַיִם וּבִזַּת הַיָּם, אַף אַתָּה הַעֲנֵק וּשְׁנֵה לוֹ (ספרי):

    וזכרת כי עבד היית AND THOU SHALT REMEMBER THAT THOU WAST A SERVANT [IN THE LAND OF EGYPT] — and I loaded thee with good things, and did so a second time — from the spoil of the land of Egypt and from the spoil at the Red Sea; so you, too, load him once, and do it again for him (Sifrei Devarim 120:1).

    Rashi on Deuteronomy 15:15:1

  6. 6.Rashi — bread that remembers

    לחם עני. לֶחֶם שֶׁמַּזְכִּיר אֶת הָעֹנִי שֶׁנִּתְעַנּוּ בְּמִצְרַיִם (ספרי):

    לחם עני THE BREAD OF AFFLICTION — i.e. bread that calls to mind the affliction to which they were subjected in Egypt (Sifrei Devarim 130:5).

    Rashi on Deuteronomy 16:3:1

  7. 7.Rashi — four are Mine, four are yours

    לוי גר יתום ואלמנה. אַרְבָּעָה שֶׁלִּי כְּנֶגֶד אַרְבָּעָה שֶׁלְּךָ – בנך ובתך ועבדך ואמתך, אִם אַתָּה מְשַׂמֵּחַ אֶת שֶׁלִּי אֲנִי מְשַׂמֵּחַ אֶת שֶׁלְּךָ:

    לוי גר יתום ואלמנה THE LEVITE THE STRANGER, THE FATHERLESS, THE WIDOW — these four are Mine, corresponding to four that are yours, viz., בנך ובתך ועבדך ואמתך THY SON, THY DAUGHTER, THY MAN-SERVANT AND THY MAID-SERVANT; if you gladden Mine, I will gladden yours (Midrash Tanchuma, Re'eh 18).

    Rashi on Deuteronomy 16:11:1

  8. 8.Rashi — only joyful is a promise

    והיית אך שמח. לְפִי פְשׁוּטוֹ אֵין זֶה לְשׁוֹן צִוּוּי אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן הַבְטָחָה, וּלְפִי תַלְמוּדוֹ לָמְדוּ מִכָּאן לְרַבּוֹת לֵילֵי יוֹם טוֹב הָאַחֲרוֹן לְשִׂמְחָה (שם מ"ח):

    והיית אך שמח ONLY BE REJOICED — According to its plain sense this is not the expression of a command but expresses an assurance: “thou will be rejoicing”. But according to the Halachic interpretation they (the Rabbis) derived from here that the night before the last day of the festival (that preceding the eighth day) is to be included in the obligation of rejoicing (Sukkah 48a; cf. Sifrei Devarim 142:4).

    Rashi on Deuteronomy 16:15:1

  9. 9.Sforno — no sadness gets in

    והיית אך שמח, you will be completely joyful; no sadness will intrude on your happy frame of mind.

    Sforno on Deuteronomy 16:15:2

  10. 10.Rashi — make Me a small feast

    עצרת תהיה לכם ON THE EIGHTH DAY THERE SHALL BE A עצרת (RESTRICTION) FOR YOU — you are restricted in the doing of work. Another explanation of עצרת: Restrict yourselves from leaving Jerusalem: this teaches that this (the eighth day) requires that they should remain in Jerusalem overnight (that the pilgrims should not immediately at the termination of the seventh day begin their homeward journey) (Sifrei Bamidbar 151:1). And an explanation of it in the Agada is: because on all the seven days of the Festival they offered sacrifices corresponding in number to the seventy nations of the world, and they propose then to set forth on their way home, the Omnipresent says to them: ‘I beg of you make a small banquet for Me, so that I may have some pleasure from you exclusively” (Sukkah 55b).

    Rashi on Numbers 29:35:1

  11. 11.Rashi — stay one day more

    פר אחד איל אחד ONE BULLOCK, ONE RAM — these are an allusion to Israel who form one nation: “Stay with me a little longer”. And this conveys the idea of God’s affection for Israel — just like children who think to take leave of their father to whom he says, “Parting from you is very hard to me; stay one day more”. — A parable! It may be compared to the case of a king who made a banquet etc., as it is related in Treatise Sukkah 55b. And in the Midrash of R. Tanchuma 4:8:17 it states: The Torah teaches you a rule of conduct — that he who has a stranger staying with him should give him on the first day fattened poultry to eat, on the morrow he should give him fish to eat, on the next day animal flesh; on the following day he should give him pulse to eat, and on the next day vegetables, diminishing gradually, just as was the case with the bullocks on the Feast of Tabernacles.

    Rashi on Numbers 29:36:1

Vorts & shmuessen on this parsha

Good vorts and shmuessen on this parsha from around the Torah world — a taste of each, and the link to learn it properly. Every excerpt is verbatim, checked against the page itself.

No AI writes Torah here — every pasuk, Rashi and Midrash is fetched word-for-word from Sefaria and checked before it prints. Read exactly how.

Texts from Sefaria — Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash (CC-BY) · Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934 (Public Domain) · Tanach with Ta'amei Hamikra (Public Domain) · Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009 (CC-BY)