Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah

Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day of Assembly) and Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Torah) come at the very end of the Sukkot holiday. Included in the Shemini Atzeret service is the Yizkor (memorial) service where we remember our loved ones.

On Simchat Torah we joyously conclude the reading of the Torah (first five books of the Bible) and immediately begin the reading again, symbolizing the never-ending cycle of learning which Judaism holds to be of utmost importance.