Atzeret

Atzeret, in Jewish usage, most often refers to Shemini Atzeret, the eighth day of the festival of Sukkot. The word Atzeret comes from a Hebrew root meaning an assembly or gathering, and the day is regarded as a solemn gathering that concludes the harvest festival period begun with Sukkot.

Timing and structure vary by community. Shemini Atzeret occurs immediately after the seven days of Sukkot. In most communities outside Israel, the holiday is followed the next day by Simchat Torah, a separate festival celebrating the conclusion and restart of the Torah reading cycle. In Israel, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are observed as a single day of festivity, without a separate following day.

Observances and customs. The day features its own synagogue service with customary prayers and, in many communities, the recitation of Hallel and Yizkor, the memorial service for the departed. A special Torah reading is conducted for Shemini Atzeret. When Simchat Torah is observed on the following day, the central focus is the festive readthrough and dancing with the Torah scrolls, symbolizing the finish of one annual cycle and the beginning of the next. In Israel, the combined observance merges these elements into a single celebratory day.

Liturgy and themes. Shemini Atzeret is associated with prayers for rainfall in the Land of Israel and signals a transition toward the winter season. The holiday emphasizes gathering and concluding the harvest period, while Simchat Torah emphasizes joy in the Torah and the renewal of its yearly cycle.

Overview. Atzeret thus encompasses both a biblical concept of assembly and the practical close of Sukkot, with its specific customs adapting to regional practice—two days of celebration in the diaspora and a single-day observance in Israel.