Leviticus 23:36 mentions a sacred assembly to be held after the seven days of Sukkot –the “Eighth Day of Assembly,” better known as Shemini Atzeret. Following the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and the celebration of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret serves as a quiet, sacred day of assembly before Simchat Torah. In Israel, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are celebrated on the same day, while in the diaspora, Shemini Atzeret is observed the day after Sukkot, followed by Simchat Torah the next day.
In 2026, Shemini Atzeret began at sundown on October 2 and ended at sundown on October 3, when Simchat Torah begins in the diaspora. In Israel, both Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah were observed from sundown on October 3 to sundown of October 4. Some diaspora communities also combine the holidays. On the Jewish calendar, Shemini Atzeret falls on the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei.
The Day of Transition
Shemini Atzeret marks the transition from the sacred and spiritual introspection of the High Holy Days and Sukkot back into the rhythms of daily life. While atzeret translates to “assembly,” it can also mean “pausing” or “holding back.” So, rather than simply diving back into normal life, Jews are encouraged to reflect inwardly one more time and stay in God’s presence just a little longer. On Shemini Atzeret, it is as if God is saying, “Don’t leave it all behind—take the inspiration of these sacred days back into your lives.”
One rabbinic explanation beautifully illustrates this idea. God rejoices when His children come to spend these sacred days with Him, but these special occasions come only a few times each year. Out of His love for His children, God asks them to remain with Him for just one more day before returning to their daily lives.
How is Shemini Atzeret Celebrated?
While Sukkot celebrates God’s blessings of food and family, and Simchat Torah celebrates the beginning of a new annual Torah reading cycle, Shemini Atzeret marks the transition from the sukkah back to the synagogue.
Guidelines like those of Shabbat are observed on Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, such as refraining from driving and using electronics. Cooking is permitted, as Shemini Atzeret is also a time for festive meals and Kiddush. However, if Shemini Atzeret falls on Shabbat, then all Shabbat restrictions are considered –this is the case for 2026.
Here are some ways Jews celebrate Shemini Atzeret:
- Prayers – The day is full of prayers for a “yom tov,” a good day. Other prayers include the Yizkor, for God to remember those no longer with us, said by families with lost loved ones –a practice in some Jewish communities. In Israel, a prayer associated with rain is commonly said as it’s the time of year when the region sees more precipitation.
- Candle lightings —Those who recited Yizkor often light and leave candles out before sunset. Other candles are lit in anticipation, and prayers are recited, and a special one is recited if the day falls on Shabbat.
- Morning services —The morning prayer service for Shemini Atzeret follows the basic structure of any other holiday service leading up to a special reading from the Torah.
- Farewell to the sukkah –Towards the end of Shemini Atzeret, it’s become a tradition for families to have one last bite to eat in their tabernacles. Some communities also have prayers they recite as they bid their temporary shelter farewell until next year.
- The hakafot –Some diaspora communities hold a hakafot on Shemini Atzeret, which is a staple of Simchat Torah in most Jewish communities and Israel. The Torahs are taken out of the synagogues’ arks and carried in seven circuits around the reading platform with dancing and singing. Hakafot means “to march around” in Hebrew.
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
Although Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are celebrated on the same day in Israel, many of the traditions mentioned above are still observed. Yizkor prayers are recited, candles are lit the night before, and hakafot—joyful processions with the Torah scrolls—are held. Daytime prayer services also lead into the completion and restarting of the annual Torah reading cycle, much as they do in the diaspora.
While Jews in Israel and the diaspora observe Shemini Atzeret somewhat differently, the meaning of the holiday remains the same wherever it is celebrated—to linger in God’s presence for one day of assembly.