SimchaTorah

Simchat Torah and Shemini Atzeret are at the conclusion of
Sukkot. Shemini Atzeret is often celebrated as a separate
festival. However, scripture gives us enlightenment concerning
the connection to Sukkot.

Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:36
For seven days present offerings made to the LORD by fire,
and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present an
offering made to the LORD by fire. It is the closing assembly;
do no regular work.

B'Midbar (Numbers) 29:35
On the eighth day hold an assembly and do no regular work.
Shemini means eighth, while Atzeret means gathering or
assembly. It comes from the Hebrew root atzar meaning to
hold back or to tarry.

Simcha Torah is the day following Shemini Atzeret, or the eight day after Sukkot (Unless
you live in Eretz Israel, then it is combined with Shemini Atzeret.) On this day, we read the
last Parshot of the Torah, and immediately after reading this we read the first Parshot
Bershit. This ends and begins a complete cycle of the reading of the Torah, with no pause in
between.

This day is very festive and consists of removing the Torah scrolls from the Aaron
Hakodesh (The Ark that holds the Torah scroll) and allowing everyone to dance around the
shul while carrying the Torah. Also, it is customary that all people of the congregation
receive an aliya (calling) to the Torah. Children as well as adults.