22 to 23 Tishrei 5786
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah 2025
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah began at sundown on Monday 13 October, and ended at nightfall on Tuesday 14 October in Israel and Wednesday 15 October elsewhere.
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah fall 10 days earlier than in 2024, as the Hebrew calendar does in most years: twelve lunar months come to about 354 days.
Next: Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah 2027, from sundown on Friday 22 October 2027
Candle-lighting on Monday 13 October, for Shemini Atzeret
Of the three days below, work stops on one in Israel and two outside it.
Times for Jerusalem and New York.
- Work stops
- Begins at sundown
| Day | In Israel | Outside Israel |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 13 Oct21 Tishrei | Israel:Hoshana Rabbah. Candles 17:29 | Outside Israel:Hoshana Rabbah. Candles 18:00 |
| Tue 14 Oct22 Tishrei | Israel:Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. Ends 18:44 | Outside Israel:Shemini Atzeret. Simchat Torah candles after 18:58 |
| Wed 15 Oct23 Tishrei | Israel:A working day | Outside Israel:Simchat Torah. Ends 18:56 |
Candles 40 minutes before sunset in Jerusalem and 18 in New York. Shabbat and yom tov end when the sun is 8.5° below the horizon. The same times as our Shabbat pages.
Shemini Atzeret follows straight after Sukkot, and Simchat Torah marks the completion and immediate restart of the annual Torah reading cycle, celebrated with dancing and hakafot.
What happens in Israel
One day, and the dancing spills into the streets outside synagogues in the evening.
These Hanukkah gifts are drawn from the same calendars as this site.
A city's Shabbat times for 2027, the moon on the night someone was born, a bar or bat mitzvah portion, the Kinneret on a day that matters. Each one is drawn for the person you choose, then printed and shipped free.
Order by November 18 for delivery in the US before the first candle, or by November 11 for Israel.
Shabbat in your city, 2027
From $36
The moon they were born under
From $36
Their Torah portion
From $36
The Kinneret mug
From $29
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah moves by up to a month from one year to the next, but never leaves its season.
The Hebrew calendar follows the moon and adds a month seven years in nineteen. Here is Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah in every year this site has computed.
| Year | Begins at sundown | Ends in Israel | Ends elsewhere |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Wed 23 OctWednesday 23 October | Thu 24 OctThursday 24 October | Fri 25 OctFriday 25 October |
| 2025 | Mon 13 OctMonday 13 October | Tue 14 OctTuesday 14 October | Wed 15 OctWednesday 15 October |
| 2026 | Fri 2 OctFriday 2 October | Sat 3 OctSaturday 3 October | Sun 4 OctSunday 4 October |
| 2027 | Fri 22 OctFriday 22 October | Sat 23 OctSaturday 23 October | Sun 24 OctSunday 24 October |
| 2028 | Wed 11 OctWednesday 11 October | Thu 12 OctThursday 12 October | Fri 13 OctFriday 13 October |
| 2029 | Sun 30 SepSunday 30 September | Mon 1 OctMonday 1 October | Tue 2 OctTuesday 2 October |
| 2030 | Fri 18 OctFriday 18 October | Sat 19 OctSaturday 19 October | Sun 20 OctSunday 20 October |
14 other Jewish holidays fall in 2025.
The next 8 in the order they fall. Each has its own page for 2025.
Thursday 13 February
Tu BiShvat
The new year of the trees. Tree planting in Israel and eating the fruits of the land.
Friday 14 March
Purim
Celebrates the rescue of the Jews of Persia as told in the Book of Esther. Megillah readings, costumes, mishloach manot and festive meals.
Sunday 13 April
Passover (Pesach)
The festival of freedom, marking the Exodus from Egypt. Seder nights, matzah, and no chametz for eight days (seven in Israel).
Thursday 24 April
Yom HaShoah
Holocaust Remembrance Day. In Israel a two-minute siren brings the country to a standstill.
Wednesday 30 April
Yom HaZikaron
Israel's Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror, the day before Independence Day.
Friday 16 May
Lag BaOmer
The 33rd day of the Omer count. Bonfires, weddings and celebrations at Mount Meron.
Monday 2 June
Shavuot
The festival of receiving the Torah at Sinai. All-night learning and dairy foods. Two days in the diaspora, one in Israel.
Frequently asked questions
When are Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah 2025?+
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah 2025 begin at sundown on Monday 13 October and end at nightfall on Wednesday 15 October (Tuesday 14 October in Israel). Jewish days start in the evening, so the first full day is Tuesday 14 October.
How long are Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah?+
2 days. This is the sharpest Israel-diaspora split of the year. In Israel the two are a single day. In the diaspora they are two separate days, with Simchat Torah on the second.
Are Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah different in Israel?+
This is the sharpest Israel-diaspora split of the year. In Israel the two are a single day. In the diaspora they are two separate days, with Simchat Torah on the second.
What happens in Israel on Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah?+
One day, and the dancing spills into the streets outside synagogues in the evening.
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