what is shemini atzeret

Shemini Atzeret is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated on the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei in the Land of Israel, and on the 22nd and 23rd outside the Land, usually coinciding with late September or early October. It is the day after the seventh day of Sukkot, and in Israel, it is also the holiday of Simchat Torah. Shemini Atzeret is a holiday in its own right and does not involve some of the special observances of Sukkot. The name Shemini Atzeret means "the assembly of the eighth (day)". The holiday is characterized by prayer for rain and the recitation of Yizkor, a memorial prayer for the dead. The exact meaning of the name Atzeret is not clear, but it is generally translated as "solemn gathering". The holiday is significant because it marks the end of the Sukkot festival and the beginning of the rainy season in Israel. Work is not permitted on Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.