Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah

Chag Sukkot Sameach!  This Friday evening, October 2nd, 2026 marks the beginning of Shemini Atzeret followed immediately in the evening of October 3rd by Simchat Torah.

Right now, we are currently celebrating the joyful Festival of Sukkot, where we eat and dwell in our Sukkah’s reminding us of our trust in G-d for all of our blessings.  We can see the Heaven’s through the holes in the roof (schach) signifying that our spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional blessings come from G-d.  This is a time that we release the false belief that we are saved by our material possessions.

Shemini Atzeret is the 8th day after the 7 days of Sukkot where we “linger” for one more day to experience our closeness to G-d as we rejoice as a community for G-d’s continuous blessings.

Simchat Torah is the day of “Rejoicing in the Torah” where we acknowledge that we have completed the annual Torah reading cycle.  Next week, October 9th, we are starting again at the beginning with Genesis (Beresheit).  This Holiday, we sing and dance with the Torah scrolls acknowledging that the Torah is “is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to do it.” (Deuteronomy 30:14)

• Our Sukkah is still up and we will have service underneath it.

• We will hold, bless, and wave the Lulav, Etrog, Hadassim, and Aravot prior to the Shabbat service.

• We will also dance with the Torah towards the end of the Shabbat service.

• All are welcome!

Topic: Society of Jewish Science – Torah Study & Kabbalat Shabbat