Category: Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah

They’re Home and We are Starting the Torah Anew

We are preparing to conclude our high holiday season with Simchat Torah – the celebration of completing the Torah reading cycle. One of the curious ...

Rabbi Ashira Konigsburg October 13, 2025 Holidays Israel

Where Is God During The Season Of Our Gladness

Balancing mourning and joy, celebration and grief, can be difficult and we wonder where is God during the Season of our Gladness—holidays?

Jeremy Kopczynski October 10, 2025 Holidays Israel

The Holiday You’ve Never Heard Of: Why Shmini Atzeret Matters

You might not have heard of Shmini Atzeret, but here's why it matters and what new meaning you can gain from it.

Neil S. Plakcy October 10, 2025 Death and Dying High Holidays

Balancing Pain and Celebration: Sukkot Message 5786

As we reach Sukkot and the anniversary of October 7, Jacob Blumenthal provides a message about balancing pain and celebration.

Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal October 3, 2025 Holidays Israel

Dancing on Your Behalf

When hakafot are impossible on Simchat Torah, especially during war, there is an alternative, a way to dance on someone else's behalf.

Rabbi Minna Bromberg, PhD October 3, 2025 Holidays Israel

The History and Evolution of Simchat Torah

If the Torah doesn’t tell us anything about Simchat Torah, where does this holiday come from? What does it teach us?

David Schwartz, MAJPS September 25, 2024 High Holidays Holidays

?כיצד ראוי לחגוג את שמחת תורה בשנת תשפ״ה

חווינו אחד מן האסונות הגדולים ביותר בתולדות המדינה, ומאז, כיצד ראוי לחגוג את שמחת תורה בשנת תשפ״ה?

Rabbi David Golinkin September 20, 2024 Halakhah High Holidays

How to Appropriately Celebrate Simchat Torah in 5785

With the ongoing tragedy of October 7th and the ongoing hostage situation and war, how do we appropriately celebrate Simchat Torah in 5785?

Rabbi David Golinkin September 20, 2024 Halakhah High Holidays

כוונה לכניסת שמחת תורה תשפ”ה

דקות לפני כניסת החג, מתכנסים בבית הכנסת, לוקחים כלי חרס שביר ביד ואומרים האלה.

Rabbi Maayan Belding-Zidon September 20, 2024 High Holidays Holidays

Intention for Simchat Torah 5785

A ritual and intention before the start of Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah this year in 2024/5785 based on a Talmudic story.

Rabbi Maayan Belding-Zidon September 20, 2024 High Holidays Holidays

High Holiday Reader 5785: Not A Mahzor

Exploring Judaism's 2024 (5785) High Holiday Reader, Not A Machzor, includes essays to inspire a meaningful Holiday season.

Exploring Judaism September 13, 2024 High Holidays Holidays

Shemini Atzeret, Demystified

What is Shemini Atzeret and how is it connected to Sukkot? "Shemini Atzeret, Demystified" explains all of that and more.

Jacki Honig September 28, 2023 Holidays Shemini Atzeret

Sh’mini Atzeret Candle Lighting

The laws for lighting candles on Sh’mini Atzeret are similar to those for Shabbat. These laws also apply to Simḥat Torah.

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) October 28, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

Shemini Atzeret: Chilling with God

Shemini Atzeret is a holiday that has left Jews puzzled for generations, but it's really about our intimate relationship with God.

Emily Jaeger September 23, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

What’s Water Got to Do With It?

How does the imagery of water and rain connect Shemini Atzreet and Simchat Torah? What can we learn from this?

Risa Finkelstein Sugarman September 23, 2022 High Holidays Holidays