> Holidays & Sabbath> Simchat Torah

Shemini Atzeret
Shemini Atzeret marks the beginning of the rainy season following the harvest in Israel. The prayer for rain, Tefilat Geshem, is the only ritual that is unique to Shemini Atzeret. Simchat Torah is celebrated on the second day of Shemini Atzeret in the Diaspora and on the only day of Shemini Atzeret in Israel.

Simchat Torah
Simchat Torah focuses on the Torah - the Five Books of Moses. The annual cycle of weekly Torah readings is completed at this time. This completion of the Torah readings is a time of great celebration, with processions, singing and dancing.

Is it permissible to still eat in the Sukkah on Simchat Torah?
American Orthodox Rabbi A. Page explains why Jews generally do not eat in the Sukkah on Simchat Torah.

The Four Faces of Simhat Torah by Rabbi Professor David Golinkin
Rabbi Professor David Golinkin, President of the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, writes about the four faces of the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah.

How Simchat Torah Came To Be
Simchat Torah is a holiday that evolved sometime between the 9th and 12th centuries. This excerpt from Celebrate! The Complete Jewish Holiday Handbook explains why and how the holiday developed.