22 to 23 Tishrei 5788
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah 2027
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah begin at sundown on Friday 22 October, and end at nightfall on Saturday 23 October in Israel and Sunday 24 October elsewhere.
Shemini Atzeret falls on a Shabbat this year, and in Israel so does Simchat Torah. Outside Israel, Simchat Torah follows on Sunday.
Candle-lighting on Friday 22 October, for Shabbat and 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 22 Oct21 Tishrei | Israel:Hoshana Rabbah. Candles 17:19 | Outside Israel:Hoshana Rabbah. Candles 17:47 |
| Sat 23 Oct22 Tishrei | Israel:Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, on Shabbat. Ends 18:35 | Outside Israel:Shemini Atzeret, on Shabbat. Simchat Torah candles after 18:45 |
| Sun 24 Oct23 Tishrei | Israel:A working day | Outside Israel:Simchat Torah. Ends 18:44 |
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.
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 2027.
The next 8 in the order they fall. Each has its own page for 2027.
Saturday 23 January
Tu BiShvat
The new year of the trees. Tree planting in Israel and eating the fruits of the land.
Tuesday 23 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.
Thursday 22 April
Passover (Pesach)
The festival of freedom, marking the Exodus from Egypt. Seder nights, matzah, and no chametz for eight days (seven in Israel).
Tuesday 4 May
Yom HaShoah
Holocaust Remembrance Day. In Israel a two-minute siren brings the country to a standstill.
Tuesday 11 May
Yom HaZikaron
Israel's Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror, the day before Independence Day.
Wednesday 12 May
Yom HaAtzmaut
Israel's Independence Day, marking the declaration of the state in 1948.
Tuesday 25 May
Lag BaOmer
The 33rd day of the Omer count. Bonfires, weddings and celebrations at Mount Meron.
Friday 11 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 2027?+
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah 2027 begin at sundown on Friday 22 October and end at nightfall on Sunday 24 October (Saturday 23 October in Israel). Jewish days start in the evening, so the first full day is Saturday 23 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.