New York – The eight day festival that consists of Sukkot and Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah will be marked by Jews around the globe tonight at sundown.
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In Israel, Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are combined in a one day holiday. Outside of israel, they are separate and celebrated for two days – Shmini Atzeret on the first day, and Simchat Torah on the second.
On Shmini Atzeret, the solemn prayer for winter rains is said, as well as the Yizkor prayer for deceased parents.
The Simchat Torah final holiday marks the conclusion – and starting again – of the annual public weekly readings of the Five Books of Moses, and commemorates the supreme Jewish idea of Torah study in general. Hours-long dancing with the Torah (known as hakafot) in synagogues, yeshivot, and even in the streets marks the day in Jewish communities around the world.
Every male in the synagogue gets called to the Torah, necessitating, in large congregations, using several scrolls and repeating the reading several times. The young children are called up together at the end of the reading, standing – or held – under a prayer shawl while the congregation recites Jacob’s blessing to his grandsons.
Note:Remember Eruv Tavshilin, In NYC, Alt. side parking will be suspended Thursday, and Friday, but meter reading will be in effect. VIN News will be offline starting tonight at sundown, until Saturday night sundown.
Don’t forget your elderly, single, divorced, frum neighbors during the holday.