Editing Shemini Atzeret (section)

===Connections to the prior Jewish holy days===

The day before Shemini Atzeret is the last day of Sukkot. It is called [[Hoshana Rabbah]] and is unique and different from the other days of Sukkot. While it is part of the “intermediate” days of Sukkot known as ''[[Chol HaMoed]]'', Hoshana Rabbah has [[Hoshana Rabbah#Rituals and customs|extra prayers and rituals]] and is treated and practised much more seriously and festively than are the previous days of ''Chol HaMoed''. In particular, during the morning prayer service of Hoshana Rabbah, there are [[Hoshana Rabbah#Seven hoshanot|seven ''hoshanot'']] with their own seven ''[[hakafot]]'' or "seven processions".<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=HOSHA'NA RABBAH ("the great Hosha'na")|encyclopedia=The Jewish Encyclopedia|year=1901–1906|publisher=Funk and Wagnalls|location=New York|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/7900-hosha-na-rabbah|access-date=November 1, 2013|archive-date=October 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023044409/http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/7900-hosha-na-rabbah|url-status=live}}</ref> That sets the stage for the ritual, mood, tenor, and heightened sense of festivity for the days that follow it—namely, of Shemini Atzeret when seven ''hakafot'' are again performed.{{refn|group=note|The ''hakafot'' of Shemini Atzeret are the same as those used in the Simchat Torah celebration, which is observed in [[Israel]] in tandem with Shemini Atzeret. Outside the Land of Israel, the ''hakafot'' are performed by some congregations on the evening preceding Shemini Atzeret,<ref>Mainly in [[Hasidic Judaism|Chassidic]] congregations. See {{cite web |title=Simchat Torah Hakafot Procedure |url=https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1288671/jewish/Simchat-Torah-Hakafot-Procedure.htm |website=Chabad.org |access-date=September 28, 2018 |archive-date=September 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928201118/https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1288671/jewish/Simchat-Torah-Hakafot-Procedure.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> and then by all on both the night and during the day of [[Simchat Torah]].

''[[The Jewish Encyclopedia]]'' states that during the time of the [[Second Temple]], the festival of [[Shavuot]] received the specific name of "'Atzarta" as cited by [[Josephus]] in [[Antiquities of the Jews]] (iii. 10, § 6) and in the [[Talmud]]'s tractate [[Pesahim]] (42b, 68b), signifying "the closing feast" of [[Passover]].<ref name=JESA/> Commenting on this, the [[Chazal|Rabbis]] in Tractate Pesahim say that:

<blockquote>The closing feast of Sukkot (i.e., Shemini Atzeret) ought rightly to have been, like that of Passover (i.e., Shavuot) on the fiftieth day, but, in order not to force the people to make another journey to [[Jerusalem]] in the rainy season, God fixed it as early as the eighth day.<ref name=JESA/></blockquote>

Shemini Atzeret thus concludes the process of judgment, repentance, and atonement begun on [[Rosh Hashanah]]: the Jewish New Year. Four days after the conclusion of [[Yom Kippur]], the Day of Atonement, Sukkot begins and is regarded as the celebration of the anticipated Divine "good judgment" that was, religious Jews hope, granted while observing the [[High Holy Days]]. (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the week between them are known as the [[Ten Days of Repentance]].) Hoshana Rabbah, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah then culminate the process with open celebration and festivity with joyous prayers, festive meals, and dancing, with the [[Torah scroll]]s held as the center of attention during the ''hakafot'' in the [[synagogue]].<ref name="oucycle">{{cite web |last1=Shaviv |first1=Rabbi Yehuda |title=Sukkot in the Cycle of Festivals |url=https://www.ou.org/holidays/sukkot/sukkot_in_the_cycle_of_festivals/ |publisher=Orthodox Union |access-date=September 28, 2018 |archive-date=September 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928201114/https://www.ou.org/holidays/sukkot/sukkot_in_the_cycle_of_festivals/ |url-status=live }}</ref>