To Do

Click here for a listing of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah's corresponding secular date for the upcoming years.

Eve of Shemini Atzeret, October 9, 2009

Light Candles
Girls and all women that are in the house (or if there isn't a woman in the house, the head of the household), light candles to usher in the holiday and Shabbat. See this link for information regarding when exactly the holiday candles should be lit.

Blessings:

1) Blessed are You, L-rd, our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to light the candle of the Shabbat and the Holiday.

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam Asher Ki-deshanu Be-mitzvo-tav Ve-tzvi-vanu Le-hadlik Ner Shel Shabbat v'shel Yom Tov.

2) Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam She-heche-ya-nu Ve-ki-yi-ma-nu Ve-higi-a-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh

Pray
Attend evening services at the synagogue. The custom of Chabad is to hold the Hakafot ceremony on Shemini Atzeret too (see below).

Click here to find a synagogue near you.

Eat
Eat a festive meal in the Sukkah, without reciting the blessing Leshev Basukah.

Click here for holiday recipes.

Eve of Simchat Torah, October 10, 2009

Light Candles
Light candles after dark from an existing flame (such as from a pilot flame), as on the holiday one may not create a fire. Recite the following blessings.

1) Blessed are You, L-rd, our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to light the candle of the Holiday.

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam Asher Ki-deshanu Be-mitzvo-tav Ve-tzvi-vanu Le-hadlik Ner Shel Yom Tov.

2) Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam She-heche-ya-nu Ve-ki-yi-ma-nu Ve-higi-a-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh.

Hakafot
On Simchat Torah we celebrate the completion of the year round cycle of reading of the Torah. All the Torah scrolls are taken from the Ark and carried in a parade around the synagogue seven times. This is called “Hakafot”. We rejoice, sing and dance with the Torahs, for the re-establishment of our covenant with the Torah as a groom rejoices with his bride. For the Torah is betrothed to Israel as a wife is to her husband.

Children are given gifts of candy and fruit because it is stated that the "commandments of the L-rd are sweeter than honey."

The joyful dancing takes place the preceding evening, this year on October 10, as well as during the morning services, on October 11. The custom of Chabad is to hold the Hakafot ceremony on Shemini Atzeret as well, the evening of October 9.

Click Here To Find A Torah Rejoicing Ceremony

Torah Readings
We conclude the reading of the Torah by reading the last portion of Deuteronomy and then immediately begin reading once again from Genesis. Every male is called to the Torah on Simchat Torah, including boys under the age of 13.

Click here for the Torah portion.