When is Simchat Torah in 2008?
For Jewish people who live outside Israel, Simchat Torah in 2008 will begin either just after sunset or just after nightfall on Tuesday, October 21, 2008.
For Jewish people who live in Israel, and for Reform Jews and Reconstructionist Jews, Simchat Torah in 2008 will begin exactly one day earlier, either just after sunset or just after nightfall on Monday, October 20, 2008.
When does Simchat Torah in 2008 end?
For Jewish people who live outside Israel, Simchat Torah in 2008 will end either at sunset or at nightfall on Wednesday, October 22, 2008.
For Jewish people who live in Israel, and for Reform Jews and Reconstructionist Jews, Simchat Torah in 2008 will end exactly one day earlier, either at sunset or at nightfall on Tuesday, October 21, 2008.
Why are there two different starting and ending times for Simchat Torah?
Depending on the authoritative rabbinical opinion that one follows, the exact time when Simchat Torah will begin and end will vary. In the case of Simchat Torah in 2008, as mentioned, the holiday will begin either just after sunset or just after nightfall, and it will end either at sunset or at nightfall on the following day.
Why does Simchat Torah occur on Shemini Atzeret and not the other way around?
Actually, in Talmudic times (about 10 B.C.E. until 500 C.E.), both the holiday of Shemini Atzeret and an event that celebrated the Torah - not at the time known as Simchat Torah but sometime after the 11th century C.E., developed into what we now know as Simchat Torah - were mentioned in the Talmud. Therefore, since the establishment and naming of Simchat Torah came into existence many centuries after the establishment of Shemini Atzeret, the one-day holiday of Simchat Torah falls on Shemini Atzeret. The difference for Jewish people is that Simchat Torah falls either on the first day and only day of Shemini Atzeret for Jews living in Israel and for Reform Jews and Reconstructionist Jews, and on the second day of the two-day holiday of Shemini Atzeret for Jews living outside Israel.
When is Simchat Torah in Hebrew/Jewish calendar?
Simchat Torah in the Hebrew/Jewish calendar for Jews living outside Israel always occurs on the 23rd day of the seventh Hebrew/Jewish month of Tishri or Tishrei, which for them is also the second day of Shemini Atzeret. For Jews living in Israel and for Reform Jews and Reconstructionist Jews, Simchat Torah is combined with the one-day holiday of Shemini Atzeret and both are celebrated on the same day and so for them, Simchat Torah will always occur on the 22nd day of the seventh Hebrew/Jewish month of Tishri or Tishrei.
More Simchat Torah Information
What is Simchat Torah ?
When is Simchat Torah ?
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Simchat Torah
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