Simchat Torah 2026

When Is Simchat Torah in 2026?

In 2026, Simchat Torah falls on October 4. The observance lasts 1 day (2 days in Diaspora, combined with Shemini Atzeret in Israel). Because Simchat Torah follows a 23 Tishrei (Diaspora) / 22 Tishrei combined with Shemini Atzeret (Israel), Hebrew lunisolar calendar, the exact Gregorian date shifts each year. Begins at sundown. In Israel, Simchat Torah is observed on the same day as Shemini Atzeret (the 8th day of Sukkot); in the Diaspora, it is the following day (the 9th). The Hebrew leap-year cycle shifts the Gregorian date by ~1 month in leap years. Since Simchat Torah's date changes from year to year, here are the dates for the next five years so you can plan ahead: Year Date 2026 October 4 2027 October 24 2028 October 12 2029 October 1 2030 October 20

What Time Does Simchat Torah Start in Your Time Zone?

Simchat Torah falls on the 23rd of Tishrei in the diaspora (the day after Shemini Atzeret) or on the 22nd of Tishrei in Israel (the same day as Shemini Atzeret). In 2026, Simchat Torah begins at sunset on October 8 and ends at nightfall on October 9 (in the diaspora). As with all Jewish holidays, each day begins at sunset, so the festival spans two Gregorian dates each day. The evening hakafot (the dancing with Torah scrolls) take place on the night that begins Simchat Torah — the evening of October 8 in 2026 (in the diaspora). The morning hakafot and the readings take place on the day of October 9. Jewish communities worldwide observe Simchat Torah on the same Gregorian dates (or, in Israel, one day earlier), with synagogues organizing their own hakafot according to local custom. The celebration is particularly festive at Hasidic synagogues, where the dancing and singing can last through the night. The table below shows the observance date for Simchat Torah in major time zones around the world: Location Observance Date Time Zone New York, USA October 4 EST/EDT (UTC-5/-4) London, UK October 4 GMT/BST (UTC+0/+1) New Delhi, India October 4 IST (UTC+5:30) Sydney, Australia October 4 AEST/AEDT (UTC+10/+11) Dubai, UAE October 4 GST (UTC+4)

The Story Behind Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah — literally "Rejoicing of the Torah" — is a Jewish festival that celebrates the completion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings and the immediate beginning of the new cycle. The festival falls on the day after Shemini Atzeret, which itself is the eighth day of Sukkot. In the diaspora, where Shemini Atzeret is observed for two days, Simchat Torah falls on the second day (the 23rd of Tishrei); in Israel, where Shemini Atzeret is one day, Simchat Torah is observed on the same day as Shemini Atzeret (the 22nd of Tishrei). The Torah — the five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) — is divided into 54 weekly portions (parashot), read in sequence throughout the Jewish year. On Simchat Torah, the final portion of Deuteronomy is read, completing the cycle, and the first portion of Genesis is immediately begun, starting the new cycle. The message is that the Torah is never "finished" — as soon as the cycle ends, it begins again, reflecting the endless and continuous nature of Jewish learning. Simchat Torah is one of the most joyful days in the Jewish calendar, in stark contrast to the solemnity of Yom Kippur (observed just two weeks earlier). The festival's central ritual is the hakafot — the circuits made with the Torah scrolls around the synagogue. The congregation sings and dances with the scrolls, celebrating the gift of the Torah. Children are particularly involved, often receiving flags or small Torahs and joining the dancing. The festival's joy is a counterpoint to the somber mood of the recent High Holidays, marking a return to communal celebration after weeks of introspection and repentance.

How Simchat Torah Is Celebrated

The central ritual of Simchat Torah is the hakafot — seven circuits made with the Torah scrolls around the synagogue. The congregation sings and dances with the scrolls, with each circuit (hakafah) accompanied by singing of traditional songs like "Moshe emet" ("Moses is true") and "Sisu v'simchu" ("Rejoice and be glad"). The dancing can last for hours, with the scrolls passed from person to person so that everyone has the chance to hold and dance with them. Many synagogues serve refreshments (often including alcoholic beverages) during the hakafot, adding to the festive atmosphere. On Simchat Torah morning, the final portion of the Torah is read, ending with the death of Moses. The person honored with this reading is called the Chatan Torah ("Bridegroom of the Torah"). The first portion of Genesis is then immediately read, beginning with the creation of the world. The person honored with this reading is called the Chatan Bereishit ("Bridegroom of Genesis"). The two bridegrooms — typically respected members of the community — are honored with the readings and are often called up to recite the blessings before and after the readings. Children are central to Simchat Torah celebrations. They receive flags (often decorated with Jewish symbols and the Hebrew word for Torah) and small toy Torahs, and they join the dancing. In some congregations, all the children are called up to the Torah for a special blessing called Kol HaNe'arim ("all the children"), in which a tallit (prayer shawl) is held over the children's heads while the blessing of Jacob (from Genesis 48:16) is recited. After the service, many communities host a kiddush (light meal) for the congregation, with refreshments and time for socializing. The festive atmosphere continues throughout the day, with hakafot often repeated in the evening as well as the morning. Why Does Simchat Torah Move Every Year? Simchat Torah is fixed on the 23rd of Tishrei (the day after Shemini Atzeret) in the diaspora, or on the 22nd of Tishrei (the same day as Shemini Atzeret) in Israel. The Hebrew calendar's leap-month system keeps the festival anchored in October. The earliest Simchat Torah can fall is early October; the latest is early November. The festival is calculated by the same lunisolar rules as Sukkot, of which it is the concluding observance.

Calendar Calculation

23 Tishrei (Diaspora) / 22 Tishrei combined with Shemini Atzeret (Israel), Hebrew lunisolar calendar

Did You Know? Simchat Torah Facts & Trivia

Simchat Torah — literally "Rejoicing of the Torah" — celebrates the completion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings and the immediate beginning of the new cycle. The festival falls on the day after Shemini Atzeret, which itself is the eighth day of Sukkot. The central ritual of Simchat Torah is the hakafot — seven circuits made with the Torah scrolls around the synagogue. The congregation sings and dances with the scrolls, with each circuit accompanied by singing of traditional songs like "Moshe emet" ("Moses is true") and "Sisu v'simchu" ("Rejoice and be glad"). On Simchat Torah morning, the final portion of the Torah is read, ending with the death of Moses. The person honored with this reading is called the Chatan Torah ("Bridegroom of the Torah"). The first portion of Genesis is then immediately read, beginning with the creation of the world. The person honored with this reading is called the Chatan Bereishit ("Bridegroom of Genesis"). Children are central to Simchat Torah celebrations. They receive flags (often decorated with Jewish symbols) and small toy Torahs, and they join the dancing. In some congregations, all the children are called up to the Torah for a special blessing called Kol HaNe'arim ("all the children"), in which a tallit (prayer shawl) is held over the children's heads.