Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah

The holiday of Sukkot is called "the time of our joy!"

The final two days of Sukkot are, at least formally, a totally separate holiday.

The Torah itself makes this clear and unclear at the same time, defining Shemini Atzeret as the eighth day of Sukkot at the same time that it grants it independent existence in the festival calendar.

Simchat Torah literally means “the joy of Torah” and is the special name given to what would otherwise be the second day of Shemini Atzeret in the Diaspora, the day on which the annual cycle of Torah readings begins and ends.

Shemini Atzeret in 2024 begins on Wednesday evening, October 23rd, and continues for a second day as Simchat Torah (for those in the diaspora), concluding on Friday night, October 25th. These two days go directly into Shabbat this year for a “three-day chag.”

One should make an Eruv Tavshilin before the holiday.