In Israel, people frequently say, “acharei hachaggim,” after the holidays. From around July until Rosh Hashana, all big projects seem to be put on hold until “acharei hachaggim.” But on Shmini Atzeret, we suddenly realize we will be “acharei hachaggim.” The next holiday we will celebrate is Hanukkah, which is over two months away.

The Netivot Shalom, a book by the Slonimer Rebbe, reminds us that this really is the “last” holiday of the year. Even though Rosh Hashana, the New Year, was only a few weeks prior, the first holiday is Pesach, way back in Nisan.

Through the Jewish calendar, we can look back at what we have gone through as a Jewish people. We left Egypt at Pesach. We received the Torah at Shavuot. We mourned the destruction of the Temple and the great losses of the Jewish people on Tisha B’Av. We started to reflect on our lives and repent in Elul. Which brings us back to Rosh Hashana, where we stood before the King of Kings in judgment, followed by confessing our sins and creating a clean slate on Yom Kippur. All too quickly, we were out in our sukkah, and, finally, we find ourselves at Shmini Atzeret, the very last chag.

Many of us are happy when we reach this date each year. The chaggim are an intense period. We have spent so much time in shul, so much time planning and cooking and hosting. In some ways, it is nice to go “back to normal,” with just Shabbat to look forward to at the end of each week.

But, at the same time, the end of this season is a bit sad and even a bit scary. There is a different feeling in the air during the chaggim, even though it might feel overwhelming at times. The community is together more often than during the rest of the year, and we all have more time for reflection and spiritual growth. Something special happens over the holiday period and then stops abruptly. On Shmini Atzeret, we realize that the year is really starting. It is happening. The book of life has been signed and sealed.

And yet there are ways to temper our sadness or worry about returning to normal life. In Devarim, this holiday is known as the “assembly of the eighth day.” There are no special mitzvot that are connected to it. It is connected to Sukkot, as it is called “the eighth day,” but it is also its own holiday.

The Maharal of Prague explains how special the eighth is. “Eight is above all other aspects and natural things, for the number seven encompasses all natural things. For all matters of natural things are included in seven days of construction, and eight is above nature and the world. Eight includes all matters that are above nature.” Our master R. Avraham teaches that “On the eighth day” means that we completely awaken from all matters of this world. It is a hint of future redemption when there will be the final repair of the world, in the world to come, as it is written “Then your Lord will rejoice about you like a groom rejoices about his bride.”

According to Rav Bick from Yeshivat Har Etzion:

In light of the meaning of Sukkot, its inner nature is clear. On Shemini Azeret, we return to our homes. The desert too was meant to be a temporary existence. Living out directly in God’s hands, without the mediacy and the challenge of making our own worlds, is a rarefied experience. It represents the highest joy, the most sublime celebration—but it is meant as a preliminary to the more prosaic but essential task of living properly, of celebrating our daily work and approach to God, from below, as one works the Land of Israel and serves God on one’s own land. This is the necessary conclusion to Sukkot—you come back to this world, to your own man-made world, and remain, somehow, before God, in joy. It is, indeed, only fitting that on this day we also begin again a cycle of Torah reading, starting again another year.

Shmini Atzeret could also be seen as the “sukkot afterparty;” God wants one more day with us. Rashi seems to endorse this view, citing the parable of a king who invites his sons to dine with him for a number of days, but when the time comes for them to leave, he asks them to stay for another day since it is difficult for him to part from them.

Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch infers the meaning of the holiday from the word “atzeret,” which he renders as “to gather” or “to store up.” Accordingly, on this eighth day of Sukkot, the final day of celebration, we must store up the sentiments of gratitude and devotion acquired throughout the entire holiday season.

Similarly, Rabbi Asher Lopatin teachers:

“Atzeret” means “detaining”… We’re ending this period of holidays and pulling everything together. It fosters the intimate relationship between God and the Jewish people… As busy as God is with the whole world, God is also interested in what I’m doing. There are no special customs. No special foods. No crying. No shofar. The message is, “Just sit there and be there.”

So what is Shmini Atzeret? It is a day for us to think about everything that we just went through over the past month. It is a way for us to stop and appreciate the holiday and take in all that we can. It is an opportunity to appreciate the extra time that we have with God. It is a chance to appreciate extra time with our friends and family as well. It is a time to appreciate the lack of routine in our lives. Today we can stop and mentally prepare ourselves for what will be coming next: for what “acharei hachaggim” will be.