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Shemini

Shemini is a Hebrew term meaning "eighth." In Biblical Hebrew it is used to designate the eighth day after a particular event or ceremony. The word appears in several contexts in the Hebrew Bible, often to mark the completion or continuation of ritual proceedings, such as the eighth day of priestly ordination and consecration rites.

In Jewish tradition, Shemini Atzeret, meaning "the Eighth Day of Assembly," is a festival that concludes the

Beyond the biblical term, Shemini also appears in modern usage as a given name in Hebrew-speaking communities,

seven-day
festival
of
Sukkot.
It
marks
the
end
of
the
Sukkot
period.
In
the
Land
of
Israel,
Shemini
Atzeret
is
observed
on
the
22nd
day
of
Tishrei
as
a
single-day
holiday.
In
many
communities
outside
Israel,
it
is
celebrated
on
two
days,
with
Shemini
Atzeret
on
the
22nd
and
Simchat
Torah
on
the
23rd.
The
day
features
liturgical
elements
such
as
Hallel
and
a
special
Torah
reading,
and
the
customs
surrounding
Simchat
Torah—rejoicing
with
the
Torah
scrolls,
dancing,
and
the
restart
of
the
annual
Torah
reading
cycle—take
place
on
the
following
day
in
the
diaspora.
Customs
can
vary
among
communities.
reflecting
its
root
meaning
of
"eighth."
The
word
continues
to
arise
in
religious,
liturgical,
and
cultural
contexts
as
both
a
technical
designation
and
a
common
linguistic
element.