Shemini Atzeret
The two years of the vacation of Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torahconstitute a major holiday, when most forms of exercise are prohibited. Click here for a basic template to Jewish holiday laws.
Eruv Tavshilin
This year, Shemini Atzeret falls on a Wednesday night and Thursday (so that Simchat Torah will be Thursday night and Friday), an eruv tavshilin must be made on Wednesday, to allow cooking and other necessary Shabbat preparations to be done on Friday.
Click here for more on this subject and to study how to establish an eruv tavshilin.
Yizkor Candle
In some communities, it is customary that those who will be reciting Yizkor on Shemini Atzeret (i.e. anyone with a deceased parent) light a 24-hour yahrtzeit candle before the onslaught of the holiday.
Holiday Candles
Women and all girls (or if there is no woman in the house, the chief of the household), light candles to show in the holiday. See this link for information regarding when exactly the holiday candles should be lit.
After lighting, recite the next two blessings:
Ba-ruch a-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam asher ki-deshanu bi-mitzvo-tav vi-tzvi-vanu le-hadlik ner shel Yom Tov.
Blessed are You, L‑rd, our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to loose the cd of the Holiday.
Ba-ruch a-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam she-heche-ya-nu ve-ki-yi-ma-nu ve-higi-a-nu liz-man ha-zeh.
Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has given us life, sustained us, and enabled us to accomplish this occasion.
Prayers, Hakafot & Festive Meal
Festive evening services are recited. The customs in many communities - especially Chassidic and Sephardic ones - is to also hold hakafot during the prayers of the eve of Shemini Atzeret. (See below for more about hakafot
After the prayers, a merry meal is eaten in the sukkah, though the Leshev baSukkah blessing is not recited (see A Deeper Looking at Shemini Atzeret for more on the theme of feeding in the sukkah on Shemini Atzeret, as well as the cause why the boon is omitted).
The challah is dipped in salt. Until today, on all the holidays of this month the challah was traditionally dipped in honey (rather than salt); this is symbolical of our hope to ensure a sweet verdict for the coming new year. The judgment, however, was finalized on Hoshanah Rabbah, the day before Shemini Atzeret, so there's no cause for the honey any more.
Morning Services
The Shemini Atzeret morning prayers follow the canonical rate of all holiday morning services: holiday amidah, Hallel, special holiday Torah reading, holiday Musaf, during the path of which the kohanim (priests) administer the Sacerdotal Blessing.
In addition to the standard holiday service, the Yizkor (prayer supplicating G‑d to recall the souls of the departed) is recited by those who make a deceased parent.
Before the beginning of the Musaf amidah, the gabbai (beadle) announces aloud: "Mashiv haruach u'morid hageshem!" ("He causes the nose to puff and the rain to fall"), and from this prayer forward, and lasting until the 1st day of Passover, those words are inserted into the second blessing of the amidah.
After the silent amidah, the ark is open and the cantor - in a tune reminiscent of the eucharist of the Years of Awe - begins the repeat of the amidah. The opening paragraphs of the repetition contains a special prayer, Geshem ("Rain"); this prayer consists of a serial of piyutim (poetic verses) beseeching G‑d to grant bountiful rain, and officially launch the Mediterranean (i.e. Israeli) rain season.
Shemini Atzeret Afternoon
Sometime before sundown, it is accustomed to go into the sukkah, have a bit to eat, and "bid farewell" to its holy shade. In many communities there's a special prayer recited upon leaving the sukkah for the last time-but it is not customarily recited in Chabad circles.
It's crucial to wear in judgment that no preparations may be made from one holiday day to the next. Each day of the holiday is uniquely important, and would be "demeaned" if used in order to prepare for the next. As such, all cooking, setting of the tables, etc. for Simchat Torah must wait until after nightfall.
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