Mitzvah —
107
Not to do prohibited labor on Shemini Atzeret
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שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֔ים תַּקְרִ֥יבוּ אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַה׳ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁמִינִ֡י מִקְרָא־קֹ֩דֶשׁ֩ יִהְיֶ֨ה לָכֶ֜ם וְהִקְרַבְתֶּ֨ם אִשֶּׁ֤ה לַֽה׳ עֲצֶ֣רֶת הִ֔וא כׇּל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת עֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֥א תַעֲשֽׂוּ׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אֱמוֹר
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Leviticus 23:36 - "[For] a seven day period, you shall bring a fire offering to the L-rd. On the eighth day, it shall be a holy occasion for you, and you shall bring a fire offering to the L-rd. It is a [day of] detention. You shall not perform any work of labor."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Holidays – חֲגִים
Rest from labor on Shemini Atzeret.
This mitzvah prohibits laborious work (melachet avodah) on Shemini Atzeret. While food-related preparation is permitted, all other work is forbidden so that the day is preserved as holy. Shemini Atzeret, though connected to Sukkot, is also an independent festival — emphasizing an intimate bond between Hashem and Israel. The prohibition of work ensures the day is fully set apart for joy, prayer, and closeness to the Divine.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Yom Tov 1:2): Lists Shemini Atzeret among the festivals where work is prohibited, like Pesach and Shavuot.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 330): The root is to elevate the unique sanctity of Shemini Atzeret, preventing it from being treated like a regular day.
- Talmud (Sukkah 48b): Stresses that Shemini Atzeret is “regel bifnei atzmo” — a festival unto itself — with its own mitzvot and sanctity.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
