"On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the Festival of Sukkot, seven days for the Lord... on the eighth day, there shall be a holy convocation for you" - Leviticus 23:34

Rejoicing in the Torah

The day after the seventh day of Sukkot, is Shemini Atzeret. In Israel, this is also Simchat Torah. Elsewhere, the second day of Shemini Atzeret is Simchat Torah.

These holidays are erroneously frequently considered part of Sukkot. Shemini Atzeret does not include some Sukkot observances. For example, we do not take up the lulav and etrog on Shemini Atzeret. And our dwelling in the sukkah is both more limited and executed without reciting a prayer.

Shemini Atzeret,"the assembly of the eighth (day)"is explained like this: our Creator, acting like a host, invites us to visit for a while, but when it's time for us to leave, He asks us to stay another day since He enjoyed himself so much! It is an extra day for us to share a more intimate celebration with Him.

Simchat Torah,"Rejoicing in the Torah"marks the completion of the weekly Torah readings, when we read the last Torah portion Deuteronomy 34 and proceed immediately to Genesis 1:1. This reminds us the Torah, and life, is a circle, a cycle, and never ends.

Rituals

Completion of the readings is reason for great celebration. We carry Torah scrolls around the synagogue, sing and dance. Drinking is a common part of the celebration! A traditional source even recommends the priestly blessing earlier in the service, to assure the kohanim are still sober when the time comes! As many people as possible are given the honor of an aliyah (reciting a blessing over the Torah reading), even children. As many people as possible are also given the honor of carrying a Torah scroll in these processions except children because of their weight. But sometimes children carry small toy Torahs (stuffed plush toys or paper scrolls)!

Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are holidays on which work is not permitted.