Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes ProCon History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture Money Videos
Shemini Atzeret
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Related Questions
Read Next
February 29, leap day, leap year, happens every four years
Leap Day, February 29
Candles Burning On Table In Church
What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?
MADURAI, INDIA - JAN 15: A man offers a garland during Pongal harvest festival on January 15, 2014 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.
5 Harvest Festivals Around the World
Moonrise over Tucson, Arizona
Why Doesn’t Arizona Observe Daylight Saving Time?
Calendar marking march 15th
22 Questions About Time and Timekeeping Answered
Discover
Casino. Gambling. Slots. Slot machine. Luck. Rich. Neon. Hit the Jackpot neon sign lights up casino window.
Brain Games: 8 Philosophical Puzzles and Paradoxes
Diverse elementary school children wearing school uniforms running outside of school. Boys girls
Pro and Con: School Uniforms
Saint Lucia Day. Young girl wears Lucia crown (tinsel halo) with candles. Holds Saint Lucia Day currant laced saffron buns (lussekatter or Lucia's cats). Observed December 13 honor virgin martyr Santa Lucia (St. Lucy). Luciadagen, Christmas, Sweden
7 Winter Solstice Celebrations From Around the World
New York NY/ USA- November 23, 2018 Hordes of shoppers throng the Macy's Herald Square flagship store in New York looking for bargains on the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday.
Why Is It Called Black Friday?
Thanksgiving Celebration Traditional Dinner Setting Food Concept
Why Is Thanksgiving in the U.S. Celebrated on a Thursday?
Plato (left) and Aristotle, detail from School of Athens, fresco by Raphael, 1508-11; in the Stanza della Segnatura, the Vatican. Plato points to the heavens and the realm of Forms, Aristotle to the earth and the realm of things.
Plato and Aristotle: How Do They Differ?
Thanksgiving Turkey with all the sides
Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?

Shemini Atzeret

Jewish religious festival
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shemini-Atzeret
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Also known as: Eighth Day of Solemn Assembly
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Article History
Related Topics:
Sukkot
See all related content

Shemini Atzeret, (Hebrew: “Eighth Day of the Solemn Assembly”), a Jewish religious festival on the eighth day of Sukkoth (Feast of Booths), considered by some to be an independent celebration immediately following Sukkoth. In Old Testament times a distinction was made regarding sacrifices: whereas 70 sacrifices were offered on the first seven days of Sukkoth to signify the “70 nations” constituting all humanity, a single ram and a single bullock were sacrificed on the eighth day to symbolize Israel’s special relationship to God. In Israel, Simchat Torah is also celebrated on the eighth day of Sukkoth, although in other countries it is celebrated on the ninth day.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Zeidan.