Simchat Torah 2024 History. The holiday of sukkot is followed by an independent holiday called shemini atzeret. It is both a source of jewish identity and a precious gift from god.
In israel and in reform congregations, which generally observe one day of holidays, rather than two, sh’mini atzeret is observed concurrently with simchat torah, the festival of “rejoicing in the torah,” which arrives directly after sukkot. On the first day of shemini atzeret, the holiday portion is read, while on the second day (colloquially known today as simchat torah ), the congregation reads parashat vezot haberachah,.