Simchat Torah 2027: Date, Hakafot Dancing & Torah Reading
Festival guide · 2027
Simchat Torah (שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה — Rejoicing of the Torah) marks the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle and its immediate restart. It falls on 23 Tishrei — the day after Shemini Atzeret in the Diaspora, combined with it in Israel.
It is one of the most joyful nights in the Jewish year: Torah scrolls are removed from the ark and carried in seven circuits (hakafot) around the synagogue while the congregation dances and sings.
2027 Dates
| Date | Saturday, October 23, 2027 |
Dates are calculated automatically and may vary by ±1 day. Always confirm with your local religious authority.
Traditions & Observance
Hakafot — Seven Circuits with the Torah
In hakafot, all Torah scrolls are removed from the ark and carried by congregants who take turns holding them. The dancing is accompanied by singing, clapping, and general exuberance — often spilling into the street. Children wave flags topped with apples and candles.
Completing and Restarting the Torah
The final portion of Deuteronomy is read by the Chatan Torah (Bridegroom of the Torah). Immediately after, the Chatan Bereishit reads the opening verses of Genesis — the cycle restarts without pause. This continuity symbolises that Torah study is endless and unbroken.
Kol HaNe'arim — All the Children
On Simchat Torah morning, all children are called up together under a tallit for a special aliyah. This Kol HaNe'arim blessing is one of the most beloved moments of the holiday, emphasising every child's connection to the Torah.
Second Hakafot in Israel
In Israel, many communities hold Hakafot Shniyot (second hakafot) on the night after Simchat Torah — large outdoor celebrations with live music and dancing in public squares, extending the joy of the holiday into the broader community.
Other Years
In Israel, Simchat Torah is combined with Shemini Atzeret on 22 Tishrei. In the Diaspora it falls on 23 Tishrei. Confirm with your local synagogue.