Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah in United States
Quick Facts
Shemini Atzeret (or Shmini Atzeret) is a Jewish holiday dedicated to the love of God, while Simchat Torah (Simchas Torah or Simhat Torah) marks the end of Sukkot and celebrates the completion of the annual reading of the Torah.Local names
| Name | Language |
|---|---|
| Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | English |
| Shemini Atzeret | Spanish |
Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah 2012
Monday, October 8, 2012Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah 2013
Thursday, September 26, 2013Note: Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.
List of dates for other years
Many Jewish communities in the United States celebrate Shemini Atzeret (or Shmini Atzeret) and Simchat Torah. Shemini Atzeret is a Jewish holiday dedicated to the love of God. Simchat Torah marks the end of the Sukkot (or Sukkoth) festival.

Simchat Torah is a happy event that focuses on activities such reading the Torah. ©iStockphoto.com/Robert Simon
What do people do?
Shemini Atzeret is the holiday that follows immediately after the seventh day of Sukkot, known as Hoshana Rabbah. Shemini Atzeret is a time when prayers or celebrations for rain and a good harvest are made for the coming year in the Jewish calendar.
Simchat Torah is a joyous event. Central rituals for Simchat Torah include reading the Torah by concluding the Book of Deuteronomy and beginning the Book of Genesis. Other activities include performing the hakafot (dancing with the Torah) around the synagogue bimah (elevated area or platform in a Jewish synagogue). Synagogues in cities such as Philadelphia have, in the past, held song and dance events to mark Simchat Torah.
Public life
Many Jewish communities in the United States observe Shemini Atzeret on one day and Simchat Torah on the following day. These days are not nationwide public holidays in the USA but some Jewish organizations may be closed or offer a limited service to allow for festivities to occur on this day.
Background
The name "Shmini Atzeret" refers to the eighth day, or the extra day, that brings the seven-day Sukkot period to its state of perfection. Rabbinic tradition teaches that Shemini Atzeret is the day when the world is judged for water, or rainfall, in the upcoming year. It is an important day for agricultural purposes.
Simchat Torah is generally celebrated on the same day as Shemini Atzeret in Israel and among Reform Jewish groups. These two occasions are also observed as two separate days among many Jewish communities outside of Israel.
About Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah in other countries
Read more about Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah.Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah Observances
Note: Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu | Oct 2 | 1980 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Oct 20 | 1981 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sat | Oct 9 | 1982 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Sep 29 | 1983 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Oct 18 | 1984 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Oct 7 | 1985 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sat | Oct 25 | 1986 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Oct 15 | 1987 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Oct 3 | 1988 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sat | Oct 21 | 1989 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Oct 11 | 1990 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Sep 30 | 1991 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Oct 19 | 1992 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Oct 7 | 1993 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Sep 27 | 1994 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Oct 16 | 1995 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sat | Oct 5 | 1996 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Oct 23 | 1997 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Oct 12 | 1998 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sat | Oct 2 | 1999 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sat | Oct 21 | 2000 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Oct 9 | 2001 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sat | Sep 28 | 2002 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sat | Oct 18 | 2003 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Oct 7 | 2004 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Oct 25 | 2005 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sat | Oct 14 | 2006 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Oct 4 | 2007 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Oct 21 | 2008 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Sat | Oct 10 | 2009 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Sep 30 | 2010 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Oct 20 | 2011 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Oct 8 | 2012 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Sep 26 | 2013 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Oct 16 | 2014 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
| Mon | Oct 5 | 2015 | Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday |
Related holidays
- First day of Sukkot ―Monday, October 1, 2012
- Last day of Sukkot ―Sunday, October 7, 2012
Other holidays in October 2012 in United States
- International Day of Older Persons ―Monday, October 1, 2012
- Child Health Day ―Monday, October 1, 2012
- World Habitat Day ―Monday, October 1, 2012
- First day of Sukkot ―Monday, October 1, 2012
- International Day of Non-Violence ―Tuesday, October 2, 2012
- Feast of St Francis of Assisi ―Thursday, October 4, 2012
- World Teachers' Day ―Friday, October 5, 2012
- Last day of Sukkot ―Sunday, October 7, 2012
- Native Americans' Day ―Monday, October 8, 2012
- Columbus Day ―Monday, October 8, 2012
- Indigenous People's Day ―Monday, October 8, 2012
- World Post Day ―Tuesday, October 9, 2012
- Leif Erikson Day ―Tuesday, October 9, 2012
- World Mental Health Day ―Wednesday, October 10, 2012
- International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction ―Wednesday, October 10, 2012
- International Day of the Girl Child ―Thursday, October 11, 2012
- World Sight Day ―Thursday, October 11, 2012
- International Day of Rural Women ―Monday, October 15, 2012
- White Cane Safety Day ―Monday, October 15, 2012
- World Food Day ―Tuesday, October 16, 2012
- Boss's Day ―Tuesday, October 16, 2012
- International Day for the Eradication of Poverty ―Wednesday, October 17, 2012
- Alaska Day ―Thursday, October 18, 2012
- World Development Information Day ―Wednesday, October 24, 2012
- United Nations Day ―Wednesday, October 24, 2012
- Nevada Day ―Friday, October 26, 2012
- Eid-al-Adha ―Friday, October 26, 2012
- World Day for Audiovisual Heritage ―Saturday, October 27, 2012
- World Stroke Day ―Monday, October 29, 2012
- Halloween ―Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Other calendars
- Perpetual yearly calendar - make yearly calendar for any year
- Perpetual monthly calendar - shows only one month at a time
- Custom calendar - make customized calendars
