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Simchat Torah
Joyous celebration of completing and restarting the annual Torah reading cycle.
📅 October 14🌙 Lunar calendar
✦ Why It Matters
Simchat Torah marks the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle and the immediate beginning of the new cycle. One of the most joyous days in the Jewish calendar, expressing love for the Torah as the greatest gift to the Jewish people.
✦ How It Is Observed
Hakafot — seven joyful processions around the synagogue carrying the Torah scrolls, singing and dancing with the scrolls, children carry flags, all adults are called to the Torah.
✦ Sacred Text
“No prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.”
— Deuteronomy 34:12 ↗
Note on dates: This holiday follows a lunar or lunisolar calendar. The date shown is approximate for 2025–2026. Exact dates may vary by one or two days depending on moon sighting and regional tradition. Always confirm with your local community.