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Shmini Atzeret & Simchat Torah
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What is "Shmini Atzeret?"
Shmini Atzeret is the holiday celebrated on the eighth day counting from the beginning of Sukkot.  Literaly, Shmini Atzeret means the gathering on the eighth. In Israel, Shmini Atzeret is celebrated on the same day Simchat Torah. In the Diaspora, Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are separated, with Simchat Torah following Shmini Atzeret on the ninth day after the commencing of the holiday of Sukkot.

Though Shmini Atzeret is connected to Sukkot by it’s name, it is actually a separate holiday. Hence, the blessing of Shehechyanu  - the added sanctification of "Blessed are you, Our God, King of the Universe, Who has kept us alive ("Shehecheyanu"), and in existence, and brought us to this time" - is recited when lighting candles to usher in the holiday, and in the Kiddush at the beginning of the festive feast. If Shmini Atzeret were merely the conclusion of Sukkot, this blessing would not be recited.

[file:///D:/0Websites/MazorNet/jewishcl/googlebox.htm]What is Simchat Torah?
The holiday of Simchat Torah celebrates the completion of and the beginning of the "Reading of the Torah."  Shmini Atzeret-Simchat Torah Holiday has no intrinsic Mitzvot, or rituals, rather the holiday celebrates the relationship between the nation of Israel and God  Public reading of the weekly Torah portion, beginning with Genesis, was instituted by Moses on each Shabbat. Later generations defined the contemporary schedule, which commences on Simchat Torah every year.

The Hakafot: The celebration of the Torah in the synagogues around the world.
The Hakafot – literally circuit or circuitous dances, give structure to the celebration.  Jews around the world dance  joyously with the Torah during the evening and morning services of Simchat Torah.  Each dance is begins with a circling the the bimah (the central platform in the synagogue from which the Torah is read), which symbolizes the altar in the Temple, with Jews carrying scrolls of the Torah. There are seven “Hakafot” or dances, each beginning with a recitation of paragraph of praise and joy, sung to a prevalent tune. Following the recitation of the “Hakafa Lyrics” exuberant dancing and dong erupts.  In some synagogues the celebration goes on for hours.

The celebrations is a conveyance of thanks and gratitude to God for bestowing the Torah upon us.  As legend has it (the Midrash) the angels approached God and asked that the Torah remain in heavens, Moses represent the people of Israel and argued his case as follows: “Do you have parents, for which you need the command to honor and fear them?” he asked the angels. “Are you afflicted with jealousy, for which the “do not covet” command was instituted? Does money have an attraction to you, for which you need a command not to steal?"  The angels remained silent and the Torah was given to Man.

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