Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah

The eighth-day festival following Sukkot — in Israel a single day, in the diaspora two — climaxing with the dance of Simchat Torah.

By The Editors

Holidays · 2 minute read

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Summary. Shemini Atzeret ("the eighth day of assembly"), the 22nd of Tishrei, is a Yom Tov in its own right, distinct from Sukkot but immediately following it. In Israel, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are the same day; in the diaspora they are split (Shemini Atzeret on the 22nd, Simchat Torah on the 23rd). Shemini Atzeret features the Tefillat Geshem (prayer for rain) and the beginning of the daily mention of rain in the Amidah. Simchat Torah celebrates the completion and re-beginning of the annual Torah cycle, with seven hakafot (circuits) of dancing with the Torah scrolls.

Tefillat Geshem

On Shemini Atzeret morning, during the Musaf service, the Tefillat Geshem (prayer for rain) is chanted. From that day on (through the Pesach Musaf), the second line of the Amidah's Gevurot blessing includes the praise mashiv ha-ruach u-morid ha-gashem ("who causes the wind to blow and the rain to fall") — a seasonal liturgical insertion. The petition for rain itself (v'ten tal u-matar livracha) is inserted into the ninth blessing of the daily Amidah beginning a few weeks later (Dec 4 or 5 in the diaspora; the 7th of Cheshvan in Israel). The rain liturgy frames the Jewish year's hydrological cycle.

Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah ("Rejoicing of the Torah") completes the annual cycle of Torah reading. The last verses of Devarim (V'zot HaBracha) are read — every adult member of the congregation gets an aliyah ("Kol HaNe'arim," "all the youths"; "Chatan Torah" and "Chatan Bereshit" — the "groom of the Torah" and "groom of Bereshit" honors). Immediately, without pause, the first verses of Bereshit are read, in a graphic affirmation that the Torah has no end. Seven hakafot (circuits) of dancing with the Torah scrolls around the bimah animate the evening; in many communities, the hakafot continue for hours. The day is one of the most joyful in the Jewish calendar.

The Halachic Status

Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are both full Yom Tov — work is prohibited, festive meals are eaten, special prayers (Hallel, Yizkor) are recited. Shemini Atzeret includes Yizkor (the memorial prayer for the dead). Simchat Torah's atmosphere is exuberant; alcohol consumption is widespread in Orthodox communities, though restrained in the older Yekke (German) and Sephardic traditions.

Where Denominations Diverge

Universal. Israel: Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah are a single day (22 Tishrei). Diaspora: split into two days. Reform congregations in the diaspora typically observe one day. The hakafot are universal but vary in style — Orthodox communities often dance for hours; Reform congregations typically have shorter, more choreographed dancing. The October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel occurred on Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah; the holiday now bears the additional weight of that memory in Israeli and diaspora consciousness alike.

Sources

Torah: Vayikra 23:36; Bamidbar 29:35–38.

Talmud Bavli, Sukkah 47a–48a; Megillah 31a.

Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Yom Tov.

Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 668–670.