Netivot Shalom relates a beautiful concept that we should set Hashem as a seal on your arm and a seal upon your heart.

There are 3 festivals which are celebrated through action. On Pesach we eat matzah, on Rosh Hashanah we blow the Shofar and on Sukkot we dwell in huts. These are all festivals on which we do something. We actively eat food, blow a horn and step out of our comfort zone to camp out. These are all times we use our bodies to celebrate.
 

These are all regalim of actions, as the Netivot Shalom explains, setting Hashem as a seal on our “arm”.
 

Shemini Atzeret is the 8th day from the beginning of Sukkot. What does the number 8 have to do with this concept?
 

The number 7 represents transition, physicality. Hashem gives to us in this world many wondrous things and commands us to DO many wonderful things in order to elevate the physical and infuse it with spirituality. All foods we make Brachot on. Intimacy in marriage gives our relationships more Kedusha. Money we earn we give 10% away to give Tzedakah. We take the physical and use it for a spiritual purpose.
 

So what is the number 8? It is beyond nature, beyond limitation, it is Holy and lofty, exactly what the Torah represents. 
 

How does this all tie in with Shemini Atzeret? Why is there a chag at the end of Sukkot (another action holiday) with no actions at all. We are not obligated to use our body in any way. It is so surprising to realize that it HAS no action. So why does it tag along at the end of Sukkot?
 

We complete the reading of the Torah and its last letter is ל and then we straight away start reading it again from the beginning with the first word which starts with ב.
 

לב!

A continuous cycle which does not end, which doesn’t break.
 

Hashem is telling us that even with a festival, like Shemini Atzeret, which has no action, He wants us to place Him on our “heart”, as the Netivot Shalom explains. 
 

All the joy and doing which we have been performing over Tishrei, internalize it and take it through to Cheshvan, a month with not a single chag in it! Let Hashem be a part of your daily life. Internalize His love which He showed us over Sukkot, dwelling in a hut surrounded by His protection and let Him be a part of the everyday, mundane activities which we do. 
 

Going to work, looking after the kids, cleaning the house, preparing for shabbat, let Hashem be there in every action that you do. Become more aware of His presence and take all that you do with your day and raise it to a spiritual place, make it Holy and keep your relationship going even through times which may be hard or seem stagnant.
 

Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom!