(ח) אָמַר רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל, לֹא הָיוּ יָמִים טוֹבִים לְיִשְׂרָאֵל כַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בְּאָב וּכְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, שֶׁבָּהֶן בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם יוֹצְאוֹת בִּכְלֵי לָבָן שְׁאוּלִין, שֶׁלֹּא לְבַיֵּשׁ אֶת מִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ. כָּל הַכֵּלִים טְעוּנִין טְבִילָה. וּבְנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם יוֹצְאוֹת וְחוֹלוֹת בַּכְּרָמִים. וּמֶה הָיוּ אוֹמְרוֹת, בָּחוּר, שָׂא נָא עֵינֶיךָ וּרְאֵה, מָה אַתָּה בוֹרֵר לָךְ. אַל תִּתֵּן עֵינֶיךָ בַנּוֹי, תֵּן עֵינֶיךָ בַמִּשְׁפָּחָה. שֶׁקֶר הַחֵן וְהֶבֶל הַיֹּפִי, אִשָּׁה יִרְאַת ה' הִיא תִתְהַלָּל (משלי לא). וְאוֹמֵר, תְּנוּ לָהּ מִפְּרִי יָדֶיהָ, וִיהַלְלוּהָ בַשְּׁעָרִים מַעֲשֶׂיהָ. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר, צְאֶינָה וּרְאֶינָה בְּנוֹת צִיּוֹן בַּמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה בָּעֲטָרָה שֶׁעִטְּרָה לּוֹ אִמּוֹ בְּיוֹם חֲתֻנָּתוֹ וּבְיוֹם שִׂמְחַת לִבּוֹ (שיר השירים ג). בְּיוֹם חֲתֻנָּתוֹ, זֶה מַתַּן תּוֹרָה. וּבְיוֹם שִׂמְחַת לִבּוֹ, זֶה בִּנְיַן בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁיִּבָּנֶה בִמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ. אָמֵן:
(8) Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: There were no days as joyous for the Jewish people as the fifteenth of Av and as Yom Kippur, as on them the daughters of Jerusalem would go out in white clothes, which each woman borrowed from another. Why were they borrowed? They did this so as not to embarrass one who did not have her own white garments. All the garments that the women borrowed require immersion, as those who previously wore them might have been ritually impure. And the daughters of Jerusalem would go out and dance in the vineyards. And what would they say? Young man, please lift up your eyes and see what you choose for yourself for a wife. Do not set your eyes toward beauty, but set your eyes toward a good family, as the verse states: “Grace is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised” (Proverbs 31:30), and it further says: “Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates” (Proverbs 31:31). And similarly, it says in another verse: “Go forth, daughters of Zion, and gaze upon King Solomon, upon the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, and on the day of the gladness of his heart” (Song of Songs 3:11). This verse is explained as an allusion to special days: “On the day of his wedding”; this is the giving of the Torah through the second set of tablets on Yom Kippur. The name King Solomon in this context, which also means king of peace, is interpreted as a reference to God. “And on the day of the gladness of his heart”; this is the building of the Temple, may it be rebuilt speedily in our days.
§ The mishna taught that Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: There were no days as happy for the Jewish people as the fifteenth of Av and as Yom Kippur.
The Gemara asks: Granted, Yom Kippur is a day of joy because it has the elements of pardon and forgiveness, and moreover, it is the day on which the last pair of tablets were given. [But why Tu b’Av?]
If Yom Kippur is the day on which forgiveness is granted, it’s understandable that one might celebrate. Why else might this day be considered joyful?
(ד) קִדֵּשׁ יָדָיו וְרַגְלָיו, וּפָשַׁט וְיָרַד וְטָבַל וְעָלָה וְנִסְתַּפֵּג. הֵבִיאוּ לוֹ בִגְדֵי לָבָן, וְלָבַשׁ, וְקִדֵּשׁ יָדָיו וְרַגְלָיו. נִכְנַס לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הַכַּף וְאֶת הַמַּחְתָּה. קִדֵּשׁ יָדָיו וְרַגְלָיו, וּפָשַׁט וְיָרַד וְטָבָל, עָלָה וְנִסְתַּפֵּג. הֵבִיאוּ לוֹ בִגְדֵי זָהָב וְלָבַשׁ, וְקִדֵּשׁ יָדָיו וְרַגְלָיו, וְנִכְנַס לְהַקְטִיר קְטֹרֶת שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם וּלְהֵטִיב אֶת הַנֵּרוֹת, וְקִדֵּשׁ יָדָיו וְרַגְלָיו, וּפָשַׁט. הֵבִיאוּ לוֹ בִגְדֵי עַצְמוֹ, וְלָבַשׁ.
וּמְלַוִּין אוֹתוֹ עַד בֵּיתוֹ. וְיוֹם טוֹב הָיָה עוֹשֶׂה לְאוֹהֲבָיו בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁיָּצָא בְשָׁלוֹם מִן הַקֹּדֶשׁ:
(4) After sacrificing these offerings, he sanctified his hands and feet and removed the golden garments, and he descended into the ritual bath and immersed and ascended and dried himself. They brought him the white garments again, and he dressed in them and sanctified his hands and feet. Afterward he entered the Holy of Holies to take out the incense spoon and the coal pan, which he had brought there earlier. He again sanctified his hands and feet and removed the white garments and descended to the ritual bath and immersed and ascended and dried himself with a towel. They brought him the golden garments, and he dressed in them and sanctified his hands and feet and entered the Sanctuary to burn the afternoon incense and to remove the ashes from the lamps, which signified the end of the day’s service. And he sanctified his hands and feet and removed the golden garments, and he descended to the ritual bath and immersed and ascended and dried himself. They then brought him his own clothing and he dressed, since the service was complete and Yom Kippur was over;
and the people escort him to his house in deference to him. And the High Priest would make a feast for his loved ones and his friends when he emerged in peace from the Sanctuary.
Rebbe Nachman anticipates the possibility of great joy on Yom Kippur because of how propitious the day is for spiritual renewal:
(יז) עַל כֵּן רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, וְהוֹרֵנִי וְלַמְּדֵנִי וְזַכֵּנִי לָשׂוּם אֶל לִבִּי לְהָבִין וּלְהִתְעַנּוֹת הַרְבֵּה כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי הַתַּעֲנִיּוֹת לְהַכְנִיעַ וּלְבַטֵּל כָּל מִינֵי מַחֲלֹקֶת,
(יח) וְאֶזְכֶּה לְהַכְנִיעַ וּלְבַטֵּל כָּל הָרְצוֹנוֹת הַפְּגוּמִים שֶׁלִּי, לְבַטֵּל כֻּלָּם כְּנֶגֶד רְצוֹנְךָ וּלְדַבֵּק לִבִּי בֶּאֱמֶת אֵלֶיךָ וְלַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּית, וְלֹא אָסוּר מֵרְצוֹנְךָ יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאל מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם.
(יט) וְעַל־יְדֵי־זֶה תְּזַכֵּנִי שֶׁיִּתְבַּטְּלוּ כָּל רְצוֹנוֹת אֲחֵרִים שֶׁל הַמּוֹנְעִים וְהַחוֹלְקִים כְּנֶגֶד רְצוֹנִי,
(כ) וְלֹא יִהְיֶה כֹחַ לְשׁוּם מוֹנֵעַ וְחוֹלֵק לְבַטְּלֵנִי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם מֵעֲבוֹדָתְךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּית, אֲפִלּוּ כְּחוּט הַשַּׂעֲרָה, וְיִתְבַּטְּלוּ כָּל מִינֵי מַחֲלֹקֶת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, הֵן מַחֲלֹקֶת מִבְּנֵי הָעוֹלָם, הֵן מַחֲלֹקֶת שֶׁבְּלִבִּי, הַכֹּל יִתְבַּטֵּל לְגַמְרֵי. וְאֶזְכֶּה לְשָׁלוֹם גָּדוֹל בֶּאֱמֶת בְּכָל הַבְּחִינוֹת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וְלִהְיוֹת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב תָּמִיד בֶּאֱמֶת מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם.
(כא) וּתְזַכֵּנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, לְשִׂמְחָה גְּדוֹלָה רַבָּה וַעֲצוּמָה תָמִיד לְשִׁמְךָ וְלַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ, שַׂמְּחֵנוּ כִּימוֹת עִנִּיתָנוּ שְׁנוֹת רָאִינוּ רָעָה:
(כב) לְיוֹם־כִּפּוּר
וְזַכֵּנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים לְקַבֵּל יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה גְּדוֹלָה וּבְשִׂמְחָה רַבָּה וְחֶדְוָה עֲצוּמָה.
(כג) וְאֶזְכֶּה לְקַיֵּם כָּל הַחֲמִשָּׁה עִנּוּיִם בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים בְּתַכְלִית הַשְּׁלֵמוּת כָּרָאוּי, וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל כָּל הַחֲמִשָּׁה תְּפִלּוֹת בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים בְּכַוָּנָה עֲצוּמָה וְנוֹרָאָה,
(כד) וּלְהִתְוַדּוֹת בְּכָל מִינֵי וִדּוּיִים, וּלְהִתְחָרֵט עַל הֶעָבַר בַּחֲרָטָה גְמוּרָה וְלַעֲזֹב בֶּאֱמֶת דַּרְכִּי הָרָע וּמַחְשְׁבוֹתַי הָרָעוֹת וְהַמְבֻלְבָּלוֹת, וּלְקַבֵּל עָלַי בְּקַבָּלָה חֲזָקָה וּנְכוֹנָה לְבַל אָשׁוּב עוֹד לְכִסְלָה, וּלְבַל אֶעֱשֶׂה עוֹד הָרַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי,
(כה) וְלָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת בְּשִׂמְחָה בְּיִרְאָה וְאַהֲבָה, וְלִבְכּוֹת הַרְבֵּה מִתּוֹךְ שִׂמְחָה:
(17) Attaining Peace on Every Level
Help me fast a great deal in accordance with Your beneficent will. In this way, may I overcome every type of dispute.
(18) May I also overcome all of my blemished desires. May I nullify them before Your will, as my heart clings to serving You and I never turn aside from doing Your will.
(19) As a result, may the will of all those who try to stop me from serving You be nullified.
(20) May every sort of dispute — dispute from people and dispute in my heart — come to an end. May I attain peace on every level, so that I will return to You and live in accordance with Your beneficent will always, from this moment on.
(21) Attaining Joy
Help me attain joy as I serve You. “Grant us joy according to the days that You pained us, the years that we saw evil.”
(22) The Joy of Yom Kippur
Help me commemorate the holy day of Yom Kippur with joy.
(23) May I keep its five afflictions properly and recite its five prayer services with awesome intent.
(24) May I confess my sins and regret having committed them. May I abandon my evil ways and confused thoughts, and resolve to never again return to my foolishness, to never again do evil in Your eyes.
(25) Instead, may I return to You with complete repentance — with joy, awe and love, as I weep from joy.
More circle dances in the haftarah for second day Rosh HaShanah:
(א) בָּעֵ֤ת הַהִיא֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶֽהְיֶה֙ לֵֽאלֹהִ֔ים לְכֹ֖ל מִשְׁפְּח֣וֹת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהֵ֖מָּה יִֽהְיוּ־לִ֥י לְעָֽם׃ {ס} (ב) כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה מָצָ֥א חֵן֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר עַ֖ם שְׂרִ֣ידֵי חָ֑רֶב הָל֥וֹךְ לְהַרְגִּיע֖וֹ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (ג) מֵרָח֕וֹק יְהֹוָ֖ה נִרְאָ֣ה לִ֑י וְאַהֲבַ֤ת עוֹלָם֙ אֲהַבְתִּ֔יךְ עַל־כֵּ֖ן מְשַׁכְתִּ֥יךְ חָֽסֶד׃
(ד) ע֤וֹד אֶבְנֵךְ֙ וְֽנִבְנֵ֔ית בְּתוּלַ֖ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל ע֚וֹד תַּעְדִּ֣י תֻפַּ֔יִךְ וְיָצָ֖את בִּמְח֥וֹל מְשַׂחֲקִֽים׃
(ה) ע֚וֹד תִּטְּעִ֣י כְרָמִ֔ים בְּהָרֵ֖י שֹֽׁמְר֑וֹן נָטְע֥וּ נֹטְעִ֖ים וְחִלֵּֽלוּ׃ (ו) כִּ֣י יֶשׁ־י֔וֹם קָרְא֥וּ נֹצְרִ֖ים בְּהַ֣ר אֶפְרָ֑יִם ק֚וּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה צִיּ֔וֹן אֶל־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ {פ}
(ז) כִּי־כֹ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה רׇנּ֤וּ לְיַֽעֲקֹב֙ שִׂמְחָ֔ה וְצַהֲל֖וּ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ הַגּוֹיִ֑ם הַשְׁמִ֤יעוּ הַֽלְלוּ֙ וְאִמְר֔וּ הוֹשַׁ֤ע יְהֹוָה֙ אֶֽת־עַמְּךָ֔ אֵ֖ת שְׁאֵרִ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (ח) הִנְנִי֩ מֵבִ֨יא אוֹתָ֜ם מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֗וֹן וְקִבַּצְתִּים֮ מִיַּרְכְּתֵי־אָ֒רֶץ֒ בָּ֚ם עִוֵּ֣ר וּפִסֵּ֔חַ הָרָ֥ה וְיֹלֶ֖דֶת יַחְדָּ֑ו קָהָ֥ל גָּד֖וֹל יָשׁ֥וּבוּ הֵֽנָּה׃
(ט) בִּבְכִ֣י יָבֹ֗אוּ וּֽבְתַחֲנוּנִים֮ אֽוֹבִילֵם֒ אֽוֹלִיכֵם֙ אֶל־נַ֣חֲלֵי מַ֔יִם בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ יָשָׁ֔ר לֹ֥א יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ בָּ֑הּ כִּֽי־הָיִ֤יתִי לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְאָ֔ב וְאֶפְרַ֖יִם בְּכֹ֥רִי הֽוּא׃ {פ}
(י) שִׁמְע֤וּ דְבַר־יְהֹוָה֙ גּוֹיִ֔ם וְהַגִּ֥ידוּ בָאִיִּ֖ים מִמֶּרְחָ֑ק וְאִמְר֗וּ מְזָרֵ֤ה יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ יְקַבְּצֶ֔נּוּ וּשְׁמָר֖וֹ כְּרֹעֶ֥ה עֶדְרֽוֹ׃ (יא) כִּֽי־פָדָ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹ֑ב וּגְאָל֕וֹ מִיַּ֖ד חָזָ֥ק מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ (יב) וּבָ֘אוּ֮ וְרִנְּנ֣וּ בִמְרוֹם־צִיּוֹן֒ וְנָהֲר֞וּ אֶל־ט֣וּב יְהֹוָ֗ה עַל־דָּגָן֙ וְעַל־תִּירֹ֣שׁ וְעַל־יִצְהָ֔ר וְעַל־בְּנֵי־צֹ֖אן וּבָקָ֑ר וְהָיְתָ֤ה נַפְשָׁם֙ כְּגַ֣ן רָוֶ֔ה וְלֹא־יוֹסִ֥יפוּ לְדַאֲבָ֖ה עֽוֹד׃
(יג) אָ֣ז תִּשְׂמַ֤ח בְּתוּלָה֙ בְּמָח֔וֹל וּבַחֻרִ֥ים וּזְקֵנִ֖ים יַחְדָּ֑ו וְהָפַכְתִּ֨י אֶבְלָ֤ם לְשָׂשׂוֹן֙ וְנִ֣חַמְתִּ֔ים וְשִׂמַּחְתִּ֖ים מִיגוֹנָֽם׃
(יד) וְרִוֵּיתִ֛י נֶ֥פֶשׁ הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים דָּ֑שֶׁן וְעַמִּ֛י אֶת־טוּבִ֥י יִשְׂבָּ֖עוּ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
(טו) כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה ק֣וֹל בְּרָמָ֤ה נִשְׁמָע֙ נְהִי֙ בְּכִ֣י תַמְרוּרִ֔ים רָחֵ֖ל מְבַכָּ֣ה עַל־בָּנֶ֑יהָ מֵאֲנָ֛ה לְהִנָּחֵ֥ם עַל־בָּנֶ֖יהָ כִּ֥י אֵינֶֽנּוּ׃ {ס} (טז) כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה מִנְעִ֤י קוֹלֵךְ֙ מִבֶּ֔כִי וְעֵינַ֖יִךְ מִדִּמְעָ֑ה כִּי֩ יֵ֨שׁ שָׂכָ֤ר לִפְעֻלָּתֵךְ֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְשָׁ֖בוּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ אוֹיֵֽב׃ (יז) וְיֵשׁ־תִּקְוָ֥ה לְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְשָׁ֥בוּ בָנִ֖ים לִגְבוּלָֽם׃
(יח) שָׁמ֣וֹעַ שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ מִתְנוֹדֵ֔ד יִסַּרְתַּ֙נִי֙ וָֽאִוָּסֵ֔ר כְּעֵ֖גֶל לֹ֣א לֻמָּ֑ד הֲשִׁבֵ֣נִי וְאָשׁ֔וּבָה כִּ֥י אַתָּ֖ה יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽי׃ (יט) כִּֽי־אַחֲרֵ֤י שׁוּבִי֙ נִחַ֔מְתִּי וְאַֽחֲרֵי֙ הִוָּ֣דְעִ֔י סָפַ֖קְתִּי עַל־יָרֵ֑ךְ בֹּ֚שְׁתִּי וְגַם־נִכְלַ֔מְתִּי כִּ֥י נָשָׂ֖אתִי חֶרְפַּ֥ת נְעוּרָֽי׃
(כ) הֲבֵן֩ יַקִּ֨יר לִ֜י אֶפְרַ֗יִם אִ֚ם יֶ֣לֶד שַׁעֲשֻׁעִ֔ים כִּֽי־מִדֵּ֤י דַבְּרִי֙ בּ֔וֹ זָכֹ֥ר אֶזְכְּרֶ֖נּוּ ע֑וֹד עַל־כֵּ֗ן הָמ֤וּ מֵעַי֙ ל֔וֹ רַחֵ֥ם אֲֽרַחֲמֶ֖נּוּ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}
(1) At that time—declares GOD—I will be God to all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.
(2) Thus said GOD:
The people escaped from the sword,
Found favor in the wilderness;
When Israel was marching homeward (3) GOD was revealed “to him” long ago.
Eternal love I conceived for you then וְאַהֲבַ֤ת עוֹלָם֙ אֲהַבְתִּ֔יךְ;
Therefore I continue My grace to you. (4) I will build you firmly again,
O Maiden Israel!
Again you shall take up your hand-drums
And go forth to the rhythm of the dancers [or: in joyful circle-dances]. (5) Again, O Maiden, you shall plant vineyards
On the hills of Samaria;
They shall plant and live to enjoy the fruit. (6) For the day is coming when watchmen
Shall proclaim on the heights of Ephraim:
Come, let us go up to Zion,
To the ETERNAL our God! (7) For thus said GOD:
Cry out in joy for Jacob,
Shout at the crossroads - crossroads Lit. “head” - of the nations!
Sing aloud in praise, and say:
Save, O ETERNAL One, Your people,
The remnant of Israel. (8) I will bring them in from the northland,
Gather them from the ends of the earth—
The blind and the lame among them,
Those with child and those in labor—
In a vast throng they shall return here. (9) They shall come with weeping,
And with compassion will I guide them.
I will lead them to streams of water,
By a level road where they will not stumble.
For I am ever a Father to Israel,
Ephraim is My first-born. (10) Hear the word of GOD, O nations,
And tell it in the isles afar.
Say:
The One who scattered Israel will gather them,
And will guard them as a shepherd his flock. (11) For GOD will ransom Jacob,
Redeem him from one too strong for him. (12) They shall come and shout on the heights of Zion,
Radiant over GOD’s bounty—
Over new grain and wine and oil,
And over sheep and cattle.
They shall fare like a watered garden,
They shall never languish again. (13) Then shall maidens dance in gay circles,
Young men and old alike.
I will turn their mourning to joy,
I will comfort them and cheer them in their grief. (14) I will give the priests their fill of fatness,
And My people shall enjoy My full bounty
—declares GOD.
(15) Thus said GOD:
A cry is heard in Ramah - Or “on a height.”—
Wailing, bitter weeping—
Rachel weeping for her children.
She refuses to be comforted
For her children, who are gone. (16) Thus said GOD:
Restrain your voice from weeping,
Your eyes from shedding tears;
For there is a reward for your labor
—declares GOD:
They shall return from the enemy’s land. (17) And there is hope for your future
—declares GOD:
Your children shall return to their country. (18) I can hear Ephraim lamenting:
“You have chastised me, and I am chastised
Like a calf that has not been broken.
Receive me back, let me return,
For You, O ETERNAL One, are my God. (19) Now that I have turned back, I am filled with remorse;
Now that I am made aware, I strike my thigh. A gesture of self-reproach.
I am ashamed and humiliated,
For I bear the disgrace of my youth.”
(20) Truly, Ephraim is a dear son to Me,
A child that is dandled!
Whenever I have turned Lit. “spoken.” against him,
My thoughts would dwell on him still.
That is why My heart yearns for him;
I will receive him back in love
—declares GOD.
When a person immerses his entire body in such water, (viz. water that has not lost its’ elemental character) and sinks completely, בלי חציצה, into this element, all connections between him and the realm of impurity is severed. He leaves the ground of man, and returns for a moment to the world of elements, in order to begin a new life of purity. Symbolically, he is reborn.
-Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (Parshat Shmini)