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THE TWIN BRIEF

Shabbat Edition (Print) · Shabbat + Shemini Atzeret + Simchat Torah · Fri Oct 2 / Sat–Sun Oct 3–4, 2026 · 21–23 Tishrei 5787

Yom Tov Reading

Shemini Atzeret on Shabbat, then Simchat Torah — no weekly parasha

Sat: Torah Devarim 14:22–16:17 · Maftir Bamidbar 29:35–30:1 · Haftarah I Kings 8:54–66. Kohelet associated with the season.

Sun: Devarim 33:1–34:12 (Vezot Habracha); Bereishit 1:1–2:3 · Maftir Bamidbar 29:35–30:1 · Haftarah Joshua 1:1–18.

Teen summary: After seven days of Sukkot guests, Hashem asks Israel to stay one more private day; then we finish the Torah and start again with joy.

Stories

Stay one more day · Finish & restart · Hakafot

Stay one more day (Pesikta / midrash): After the nations leave Sukkot, Hashem wants Israel alone — Shemini Atzeret is intimate time, not another public party.

Moshe finishes / Vezot Habracha: We read to the end of Devarim and open Bereishit immediately — Torah has no cliffhanger.

Hakafot: Joy itself is the avodah; everyone (including kids) gets an aliyah on Simchat Torah.

Dvar Torah · Ben Ish Chai / Yalkut Yosef framing

The extra day, then unstoppable joy

Shemini Atzeret is closeness that isn’t for show after the Sukkot crowd. Simchat Torah turns that closeness into motion — finish Vezot Habracha, open Bereishit, dance so the cycle never ends.

Teen takeaway: show up for the extra day, then dance like there is no last page.

Dvar comic

Halacha checklist · Sephardi / SA / YY

Ten points

  1. Candles Fri 6:17 PM — shel Shabbat v’shel Yom Tov. Sephardim: Shehecheyanu at Kiddush, not candles.
  2. Own chag (not Chol HaMoed); arba minim done. Sephardi lean: most do not eat in the sukkah.
  3. Mashiv haruach begins Musaf of Shemini Atzeret.
  4. Yizkor on Shemini Atzeret (Sat).
  5. No preparing on Shabbat for Sunday. Sunday: cook for Sunday only, from existing flame.
  6. Second night: nothing before 7:24 PM; existing flame; Yaknehaz Kiddush.
  7. Hakafot / dancing; everyone gets an aliyah — simcha is the mitzvah.
  8. No eruv tavshilin (Fri weekday; YT Sat–Sun).
  9. Simchat Yom Tov includes making family happy.
  10. Havdalah Sun night; next parasha Bereshit; candles Fri Oct 9 6:06 PM.
Halacha checklist graphic

Zmanim · Bronx 10471 ET

Weekend times

Fri: candles 6:17 PM · sunset 6:36 PM

Sat: Shema 9:13 AM (MGA) / 9:49 AM (GRA) · Tefillah 10:23 (MGA) / 10:47 (GRA) · Chatzot 12:44 PM · Mincha gedola 1:13 PM · Plag 5:21 PM · sunset 6:34 PM · 2nd-night prep not before 7:24 PM

Sun: Chatzot 12:44 PM · sunset 6:32 PM · Havdalah 7:23 PM (Hebcal, 50 min); some wait 7:44

Coming: Bereshit · candles Fri Oct 9 6:06 PM

Shemini Atzeret scene
Closing comic