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Shemini Atzeret (שמיני עצרת – "the Eighth [day] of Assembly"; Ashkenazic pron. shmini-atseres) is a Jewish holiday. It is celebrated on the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. In the Diaspora, an additional day is celebrated,[1] the second day being separately referred to as Simchat Torah.[2] In Israel, as well as in Reform Judaism, the holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are combined into one and the names are used interchangeably.
Shemini Atzeret is often referred to as the eighth day of the Festival of Sukkot, which occupies the seven preceding days (this term is slightly erroneous, however).
(... from Wikipedia on 2012-04-17 06:19:44)