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Podcast: The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman
Episode: Hayom Yom 22 Tishrei - Customs and meaning of Shemini Atzeres
Description: מְקַדְּשִׁים וְאוֹכְלִים וְשׁוֹתִים בַּסּוּכָּה בֵּין בַּלַּיְלָה וּבֵין בַּיּוֹםWe recite Kiddush and eat and drink in the sukkah, both at night and during the day.הַקָּפוֹת בְּלֵיל שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶתHakkafos are held on the eve of Shemini Atzeres.הפטורה: וַיְהִי כְּכַלּוֹת - וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַמּוֹThe haftarah begins with Vayehi kechalos and ends with u’leYisrael amo.אֵין אוֹמְרִים הַיְהִי רָצוֹן בִּיצִיאָה מִן הַסּוּכָּהWhen taking leave of the sukkah [for the last time during the festival],we do not recite the Yehi ratzon [that appears in some Siddurim].שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת וְרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה מִשְׁתַּוִּים בְּכַמָּה עִנְיָנֵי כַּוָּנוֹת וְיִחוּדִים עֶלְיוֹנִיםShemini Atzeres and Rosh HaShanah are similar in terms of certain mystical intentions (kavanos) and Supernal Unifications (yichudim).אֶלָּא שֶׁבְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה הֵם בְּעִנְיַן הָעֲלִיָּה On Rosh HaShanah, however, they are framed in terms of ascent, וּבִשְׁמִינִי עַצֶרֶת הֵם בְּעִנְיַן הַהַמְשָׁכָהwhereas on Shemini Atzeres, the thrust is on drawing G‑dliness downward. בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה הָעֲבו