Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah
Rejoicing of the Torah
“Shemini Atzeret is chamber music, not a symphony. It is quiet time with God. We are reluctant to leave, and we dare to think that He is reluctant to see us go. On Succot we are among strangers and friends. On Shemini Atzeret we are with family.” — Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
“Simchat Torah was born when Jews had lost everything else, but they never lost their capacity to rejoice. A people whose capacity for joy cannot be destroyed is itself indestructible.” — Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
