Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah in United States

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

Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah Observances

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