Note published by Itón Gadol on October 22, 2024
Everything you need to know in order to celebrate Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah.
Message from Menora—World Jewish Organization for Youth, founded by Grand Rabbi Isaac Sacca—for the holiday cycle that began on Wednesday, October 16, with the celebration of Sukkot.
Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah are the days of joy and rejoicing, with messages of universal resonance. Below is a guide with comprehensive material, answering the most common questions about the meaning and customs of these holidays.
What are Sukkot and Simchat Torah?
Sukkot commemorates God’s protection of the Israelites during their journey through the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. It also marks the end of the harvest season and is dedicated to joy and gratitude to God.
The eighth day following the start of Sukkot is an independent festival known as Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day of Assembly). This day marks the beginning of the rainy season in accordance with the harvest in Israel.
Simchat Torah signifies the moment when the annual cycle of Torah (Pentateuch) reading is completed and a new cycle begins.
When are Sukkot and Simchat Torah celebrated?
From the 15th to the 21st of Tishrei in the Land of Israel, and until the 22nd of Tishrei in the diaspora (this year, 2024, from the evening of Wednesday, October 16, to the evening of Thursday, October 24, or Friday, October 25, respectively). On the evening of Tuesday, October 22, Hoshanah Rabbah, the seventh day of Sukkot, is celebrated, during which it is customary to study Torah all night and pray for rain. The 22nd of Tishrei is also called Shemini Atzeret. Since approximately the 8th century, this day has also celebrated the conclusion of the Torah reading (Simchat Torah) in Israel; in the diaspora, the eighth day of Sukkot is Shemini Atzeret, and the ninth is Simchat Torah.
How do you greet people on Sukkot and Simchat Torah?
The traditional greeting is “Chag Sameach,” which means “Joyful Festival.”
How are Sukkot and Simchat Torah celebrated?
During Sukkot, people dwell in the sukkah (a temporary and precarious dwelling). They also take the four species and bless them: etrog (citron), lulav (palm branch), hadas (myrtle), and aravah (willow). The union of these four species symbolizes the unity of all people.
On Simchat Torah, it is customary to dance with the Torah (Pentateuch), demonstrating love for the sacred texts.
During Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah, Hallel (a song of praise) is recited every day of the festival. Special prayers and readings related to the festival are conducted, leading to reflection and analysis. On the first two days and the last two days, work is prohibited, and all forms of creative labor are avoided, with the aim of temporarily distancing ourselves from the material and dedicating the day to the spiritual.
Simchat Torah: Knowledge is Infinite
Grand Rabbi Isaac Sacca
Simchat Torah, the celebration marking the conclusion and restart of the annual Torah reading cycle, reminds us that studying the Torah is an endless journey because knowledge is infinite. As soon as we finish reading the book of Devarim, we immediately return to the beginning with Bereshit, underscoring that there is no final point in the quest for knowledge in our tradition. The Torah demands our constant dedication: it always offers us new lessons.
Simchat Torah invites us not only to celebrate the completion of the reading cycle but also to renew our commitment to its study and practice. Through this uninterrupted cycle, we demonstrate that the Torah is the fundamental source of Jewish life.
About Menora
Menora is a global organization founded by Grand Rabbi Isaac Sacca, aimed at benefiting society and inspiring youth through educational, supportive, and recreational programs, helping them grow into good individuals and contribute to creating a just, noble, and respectful society.
Menora welcomes between 3,000 and 4,000 youth each year, and since its founding in 2000, nearly 50,000 people have participated. It operates independently and provides its services to all of society, as it is not affiliated with any community, institution, or political ideology. www.menora.org.ar
About Isaac Sacca
Grand Rabbi of the Sephardic Community of Buenos Aires.
Founder and president of Menora, World Organization for Youth.
Member of the Superior Rabbinical Academy of Jerusalem, Yeshivat Havah Da’at.
Member of the Advisory Council of the Hispanic-Jewish Foundation.
www.isaacsacca.com
For more information and interviews: Natalia Indibo: nataliaindibo@menora.org.ar | wapp +5491140290384
Source: https://itongadol.com/comunidad-en-accion/menora/menora-sucot-shemini-aseret-y-simjat-tora-2024
