DIASPORA: SHEMINI ATZERET (22nd Tishrei)

Ma'ariv Evening service

As on any festival.
- If on Shabbat, it is preceded by an abbreviated version of Kabbalat Shabbat .
- The amidah is as for Shemini Atzeret .
- On Shabbat, the relevant extras are added during and after the amidah.
- Hassidim hold Hakafot (as on Simchat Torah, see below).
The service concludes as usual, with Aleinu and Yigdal .

Shacharit Morning service

As on any festival (similar to Shabbat) up to the amidah , which is for Shemini Atzeret (with Shabbat additions if applicable), followed by Hallel .
- If the Festival falls on Shabbat, Megillat Kohelet (Scroll of Ecclesiastes) is read.
- The main Torah reading is Deuteronomy 14:22 - 16:17, which mentions the Shalosh Regalim (three Pilgrim Festivals), although not specifically Shemini Atzeret. Five people are called up to the Torah (seven, on Shabbat).
- The Maftir is Number 29:35 - 30:1, which mentions the Festival (additional) sacrifice.
- The Haftarah is 1 Kings 8:54-66, which mentions the Festival (i.e. Succot) in the time of Solomon, and the Eighth Day.
- Yizkor (the memorial service for the dead) follows this, as on Yom Kippur and the last day of the other Regalim (Pilgrim Festivals).

Musaf Additional Service

- The hazan (cantor) dons a kittel (white coat) under his tallit, as on Yom Kippur.
- He sings the Kaddish to a traditional tune that is vaguely similar (but not identical) to that of the Kaddish during Ne'ilah on Yom Kippur.
- Immediately after that, someone announces in a loud voice ' Mashiv haruah! ', so that the congregation will remember to include this in the silent amidah . [Note that in the Shemini Atzeret amidah there is no reference to Succot, even in the section mentioning the sacrifices.]
- The Hazan begins the repetition to a traditional tune (as that of the preceding Kaddish , which may be similar but not identical to that sung for Ne'ilah on Yom Kippur) and includes Tefillat HaGeshem (the special 'General Prayer for Rain').
- The service is concluded as usual, including Birkat HaCohanim , (the priestly blessings), except on Shabbat.
- The custom among Hassidim is to say Psalm 27 (for the last time).

Minchah Afternoon Service

Normal festival afternoon service, with the amidah for Shemini Atzeret .
- If on Shabbat, there is first a Torah reading, Deuteronomy 33:1-17, to which three people are called up.

DIASPORA: SIMCHAT TORAH (23rd Tishrei)

Ma'ariv Evening service

- The same as for the previous evening, until after the amidah (the same as for Shemini Atzeret ), which is followed by Hakafot.
There are seven circuits, during which different people are invited to carry the Torah scrolls: usually, everyone gets a chance, so the length of the circuits depends on how many people there are and how many scrolls are available. The Hakafot are accompanied by singing and dancing.
- In some congregations, after the scrolls are returned to the Aron Kodesh (Ark), one is taken out for a Torah reading, which is from the first section of Vezot Habrachah , and to which only three people are called up.
- The service is concluded in the usual way.

Shacharit Morning Service

- The same as on the previous day, until after the Hallel, which is followed by the Hakafot , as on the previous evening.
- The Torah reading (for which three Sifrei Torah are taken out) then takes place in a unique way, different to any other occasion:
(a) The main reading is Deuteronomy 33:1-26, to which five people are called. (In the Diaspora, Simchat Torah never occurs on Shabbat.) This section is then repeated over and over again until everyone has been called up, with the exception of those mentioned below. In some congregations the repetitions start at verse 8, or 13, if there are no Cohanim (priests) or Levi'im (Levites) left.
Then one special person is called up im kol hana'arim (with all the children), and wherever this may starts, this portion continues until the end of verse 26.
(b) The Hatan Bereishit is then called up for the second part of the reading: the Torah is now read out to very end (i.e. Deuteronomy 33:27 - 34:12) from the same Sefer Torah.
It is customary for the person who has Hagbahah to raise the Torah reversed (which involves crossing one's hands over, after raising it, and carrying the bulk of the weight on the left arm), so the person chosen needs to be physically capable of accomplishing this very difficult feat without the risk of tearing the scroll.
(c) The Hatan Bereishit is then called to the third part of the reading, where the beginning the Torah (Genesis 1:1 - 2:3) is read from the second Sefer Torah.
(d) The person who is to read the haftarah is called to the fourth part of the reading, the Maftir (Numbers 29:35 - 30:1, the same as for Shemini Atzeret ), read from the third scroll.
(e) The Haftarah is the first chapter of the book of Joshua (which follows the book of Deuteronomy in the Tanach).

Musaf Additional Service

- The normal additional service for Festivals, but with the amidah for Shemini Atzeret , although the atmosphere is often quite chaotic.
- There are no priestly blessings (prohibited, in case the cohanim have been drinking).
- After the service there is a Se'udah offered by the Hatan Torah , or by both hatanim , or (if they cannot afford it) by the congregation on their behalf.

Minchah Afternoon Service

The same as for the previous day.

ISRAEL - SHEMINI ATZERET / SIMCHAT TORAH 22nd Tishrei

Ma'ariv Evening service

The same as for Simchat Torah in the Diaspora. Normal festival evening service, Hakafot , and - in some congregations - a short Torah reading.

Shacharit Morning service

A combination of the Diaspora services for the two days.
- Normal Festival morning service (the amidah for Shemini Atzeret ), until after Hallel.
- ( Megillat Kohelet is not read, even on Shabbat.)
- Hakafot , as on Simchat Torah in the Diaspora (above).
- Torah readings and Haftarah as outlined for Simchat Torah (not Shemini Atzeret ) above, with the following modifications: if it is on Shabbat, the main reading is Deuteronomy 33:1-29, and six people are called (instead of five); the reading for kol hana'arim continues through 33:29; therefore, the reading for Hatan Torah begins at 34:1.
- After the Torah readings and Haftarah, the Yizkor prayer is said (as on Shemini Atzeret , above).

Musaf Additional Service

- After the scrolls are returned to the Aron Kodesh (Ark), the reader says Tefillat Hageshem (the Prayer for Rain) before Kaddish .
- He then says the Kaddish , followed by the silent amidah (for Shemini Atzeret ) and repetition as usual.
- The phrase mashiv haruah umorid hageshem are of course included.
- There is no Birkat Cohanim (Priestly Blessing), for the reason given above.
- In the nusah sefarad (Sephardi custom), but not according to the nusah ashkenaz (Ashkenazi custom) , Psalm 27 is included, either in the morning or additional service.

Minchah Afternoon Service

Normal festival afternoon service.