Shemini Atzeret ( שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת—”Eighth [day of] Assembly”; Sephardic and Israeli pronounced shemini atzèret; Ashkenazic pronounced shmini-atsères) is
a Jewish holiday
. … The celebration of Simchat Torah is the most distinctive feature of the holiday, but it is a later rabbinical innovation.
What is the difference between Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah?
Meaning of Shemini Atzeret
Shemini Atzeret literally means “the assembly of the eighth” day in Hebrew. Simchat Torah simply means “
rejoicing in the Torah
.”
What is the meaning of Simchat Torah?
Simchat Torah, Simchat also spelled Simhat, Simhath, Simchas, Simchath, or Simchat Hebrew Simḥat Torah, (
“Rejoicing of the Torah”
), Jewish religious observance held on the last day of Sukkot (“Festival of Booths”), when the yearly cycle of Torah reading is completed and the next cycle is begun.
What is the Feast of Shemini Atzeret?
Shemini Atzeret, (Hebrew: “Eighth Day of the Solemn Assembly”),
a Jewish religious festival on the eighth day of Sukkoth
(Feast of Booths), considered by some to be an independent celebration immediately following Sukkoth.
How do they celebrate Shemini Atzeret?
Interestingly, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah have no inherent mitzvot. They are observed by
beginning the recitation of the prayer for rain (tefilat geshem), singing and dancing with the Torah
, completing the yearly cycle of Torah readings and beginning the next cycle and refraining from work.
What do you eat on Simchat Torah?
Simchat Torah
An Ashkenazic tradition is eating
kreplach (aka Jewish wonton), dough stuffed with meat filling then boiled
and served in chicken soup or fried and served as a side dish.
Can you work on Simchat Torah?
Observant Jews do not work or travel on this yom tov
or “holy day.” Shemini Atzeret is immediately followed by the joyous holiday of Simchat Torah—or “rejoicing of the Law”—which is traditionally celebrated by dancing with Torah scrolls and singing hakafot, songs of praise and gratitude.
Is Shemini Atzeret biblical?
| Shemini Atzeret | Related to Culmination of Sukkot (Tabernacles) |
|---|
Why is Shemini Atzeret important?
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.
Is Simchat Torah a Shabbat?
This Shabbat: Shabbat Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
On Shabbat, which is also Shemini Atzeret, Jews around the world will recite the prayer for rain, hoping that Israel will have a productive and rainy winter after its traditionally dry summer season.
What does shemini mean in Hebrew?
Shemini is a Hebrew word that means
“eighth”
, and may refer to: Shemini (parsha) is the 26th weekly Torah portion. Shemini Atzeret is a Jewish holiday.
Is Simchat Torah part of Sukkot?
The culmination of Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret
. Simchat Torah is a component of the Biblical Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret (“Eighth Day of Assembly”), which follows immediately after the festival of Sukkot in the month of Tishrei (occurring in mid-September to early October on the Gregorian calendar). …
What do we read on Shemini Atzeret?
– The main Torah reading is
Deuteronomy 14:22 – 16:17
, which mentions the Shalosh Regalim (three Pilgrim Festivals), although not specifically Shemini Atzeret. Five people are called up to the Torah (seven, on Shabbat). – The Maftir is Number 29:35 – 30:1, which mentions the Festival (additional) sacrifice.
Do you light yahrzeit candles on Shemini Atzeret?
The candle is also
lit on Yom Kippur
and there are also customs to light a yahrzeit candle on the dates when yizkor is said (Yom Kippur, Shemini Atzeret, final day of Pesach, and Shavuot). It is also customary to light the candle during the shiva, usually a larger one that lasts the entire seven days.
What is Simchat Torah and why is it celebrated?
Simchat Torah (Rejoicing with the Torah) marks the end of the annual cycle of weekly Torah readings and the beginning of the new cycle. It is a joyous holiday that
celebrates the Jewish love of Torah and study
.
What the Bible Says About Sukkot?
“Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the first fruits of the crops you sow in your field,”
Exodus 23:16
. “YHWH said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month YHWH's Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work.
