Shmini Atzeret

Shmini Atzeret (“eighth day of solemn assembly”) is a holiday coming on the 22nd of Tishrei immediately after the seven days prescribed for Sukkot in Leviticus 23:34. Rabbinic teaching describes God as so pleased with the seven days’ festivities that He added another day. It is a day of rest. In biblical times worshippers would give an offering of fire; today observant Jews pray for rain for the coming year. Within Israel Shmini Atzeret occurs on the same day as Simchat Torah.