| Simchat Torah | |
|---|---|
 The Feast of the Rejoicing of the Law at the Synagogue in Livorno by Solomon Hart, 1850. Jewish Museum, New York | |
| Official name | שמחת תורה |
| Also called | Translation: 'Rejoicing with/of the Torah' |
| Observed by | Jews |
| Type | Jewish |
| Significance | The culmination of Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret. Conclusion of the annual Torah reading cycle. Final Parasha from Deuteronomy is read in synagogue. Everyone is called to the Torah reading. Then first Parasha from Genesis is read. |
| Celebrations | Dancing in synagogue as all the Torah scrolls are carried around in seven circuits (hakafot); melakha (work) is prohibited |
| Date | 22nd (outside of Israel 23rd) day of Tishrei[1] |
| 2023 date | Sunset, 6 October – nightfall, 7 October (8 October outside of Israel) |
| 2024 date | Sunset, 23 October – nightfall, 24 October (25 October outside of Israel) |
| 2025 date | Sunset, 13 October – nightfall, 14 October (15 October outside of Israel) |
| 2026 date | Sunset, 2 October – nightfall, 3 October (4 October outside of Israel) |
| Related to | Culmination of Sukkot (Tabernacles) |
Simchat Torah (Hebrew: שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה, lit. 'Torah celebration'; Ashkenazi: Simchas Torah), also spelled Simhat Torah, is a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. Simchat Torah is a component of the Biblical Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret ("Eighth Day of Assembly"), which follows immediately after the festival of Sukkot in the month of Tishrei (occurring in September or October on the Gregorian calendar).
Simchat Torah's main celebrations occur in the synagogue during evening and morning services. In many Orthodox as well as many Conservative congregations, this is the only time of year on which the Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark and read at night. In the morning, the last parashah of Deuteronomy and the first parashah of Genesis are read in the synagogue. On each occasion, when the ark is opened, the worshippers leave their seats to dance and sing with the Torah scrolls in a joyous celebration that lasts several hours.
The morning service is also uniquely characterized by each member of the congregation being called up for an aliyah. There is also a special aliyah for children.
- ^ "Jewish Holidays – Hebcal Jewish Calendar". www.hebcal.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2018.