Shemini Azeret and Simchat Torah

At the synagogue, celebrants literally embrace the Torah, kissing and dancing with the scrolls. Children joyfully wave flags impaled with bright red apples, then are blessed beneath the canopy of an unfurled tallit (prayer shawl). In many communities, Jews of different denominations celebrate the holiday in unison, dancing together on the streets. At home, the festive table is laden with kreplach and the finest of the Sukkot foods; lavish amounts of good wine and other strong drink are poured.