Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah Service

Shemini Atzeret means the Eighth Day of Assembly and refers to the closing of Sukkot. As we read in Leviticus 23:36, Shemini Atzeret is a Shabbat and a day for a holy convocation. Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Law) is the day corresponding to Shemini Atzeret. Every year, the entire Torah is completed by reading one portion each week during synagogue services. Simchat Torah is the day when the final chapters of Deuteronomy and the first chapters of Genesis are read, completing and restarting the annual cycle. We celebrate the gift of the Torah with music and dance and take great delight in the goodness of G-d’s perfect Word.

This is one of our most joyous Torah services of the entire year. We will process around the congregation, literally following the Torah Scroll and dancing, while the Torah is rolled all the way back to Genesis 1:1 in preparation to read it yet again as part of a new cycle.