THE TWIN BRIEF

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

Combined Shabbat + Shemini Atzeret + Simchat Torah edition for Bronx/NYC. Reading, stories, a longer Dvar, practical Sephardi halacha, and full zmanim. About a 10–12 minute read. Illustrated. Open the printable version →

Yom Tov Reading

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

This Shabbat is Shemini Atzeret, so there is no weekly parasha. Sunday is Simchat Torah.

Sat — Shemini Atzeret on Shabbat

Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) is traditionally associated with this season — a quieter book for a quieter day after the Sukkot crowd.

Sun — Simchat Torah

Teen summary: After seven days of Sukkot guests, Hashem asks Israel to stay one more private day (Atzeret). Then we finish the Torah — and immediately start again with joy.

Parasha / Chag Stories

Three midrashim for teens

1. “Stay one more day”

The midrash (Pesikta and parallel teachings) pictures Sukkot as a big public party for the nations. When the guests leave, Hashem says to Israel: stay with Me one more day — just us. That is Shemini Atzeret: not another round of arba minim, but intimate time. The point for teens: the “extra day” is the relationship, not the show.

2. Moshe finishes — and we start again

On Simchat Torah we read Vezot Habracha to the end of Devarim — Moshe’s final blessing and his passing. We do not leave the Torah hanging. The next aliyah opens Bereishit immediately. Torah has no cliffhanger and no “we’re done.” Ending and beginning are the same dance.

3. Hakafot — joy is the avodah

On Simchat Torah we circle with the Sifrei Torah (hakafot) and dance. Everyone — including kids — traditionally gets an aliyah. The work of the day is not only learning; it is simcha itself. Showing up to dance counts.

Dvar Torah

The extra day, then unstoppable joy

Sukkot is the loud week — guests, arba minim, the booth under the sky. Shemini Atzeret flips the volume down. After the nations’ party, Hashem wants Israel alone. Closeness that is not for show.

In a Ben Ish Chai / Yalkut Yosef style framing for teens: the private day is the point of the calendar’s “eighth.” Then Simchat Torah takes that quiet closeness and turns it into motion — finishing Vezot Habracha and opening Bereishit in the same breath, dancing so the cycle never ends.

Teen takeaway: show up for the “extra day,” then dance like there is no last page. The relationship and the joy are both the mitzvah.

Source: classic midrash on Atzeret + Ben Ish Chai / Yalkut Yosef framing — teen reference, not a personal ruling.

Comic: Sukkot party ends, stay one more day, then dance with the Torah
Dvar comic — party over, stay one more day, then we dance

Practical Halacha · Sephardi / SA / Yalkut Yosef

Tonight’s checklist

Visual checklist: candles 6:17, no sukkah Sephardi, Mashiv haruach, Yizkor, 2nd night after 7:24, hakafot
Quick visual — candles, no sukkah (Sephardi), Mashiv haruach, Yizkor, second night, hakafot
  1. Candles Fri 6:17 PM for Shabbat and Yom Tov together. Blessing: l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat v’shel Yom Tov. Sephardim say Shehecheyanu at Kiddush, not at candle lighting.
  2. Shemini Atzeret is its own chag (not Chol HaMoed). Arba minim are done. Sephardi lean: most do not eat in the sukkah on Shemini Atzeret. (Ashkenazim / Rema often sit without a leishev bracha — follow your family custom.)
  3. Mashiv haruach u’morid hageshem begins in Musaf of Shemini Atzeret.
  4. Yizkor is said on Shemini Atzeret (Saturday).
  5. No cooking or preparing on Shabbat for Sunday. On Sunday (Simchat Torah) you may cook for Sunday’s needs from an existing flame only.
  6. Second night (into Simchat Torah): nothing lit or prepared before 7:24 PM. Light only from an existing flame, after Arvit with Vatodieinu or “Baruch hamavdil bein kodesh l’kodesh.” Kiddush that night uses Yaknehaz: wine, Kiddush, candle blessing, Havdalah, then Shehecheyanu.
  7. Simchat Torah: hakafot, dancing with Sifrei Torah, everyone gets an aliyah — simcha is the mitzvah.
  8. No eruv tavshilin needed (Friday is weekday Hoshana Rabbah; Yom Tov is Sat–Sun).
  9. Simchat Yom Tov includes making your family happy (SA OC 529 / Yalkut Yosef).
  10. After chag: Havdalah Sunday night. Next weekly parasha is Bereshit. Candles next Friday (Oct 9) at 6:06 PM.

Teen reference only — not personal psak. Ask a rav for your household.

Zmanim · Bronx NY 10471 · ET

Full weekend times

Fri Oct 2 · Hoshana Rabbah / Erev Shemini Atzeret

  • Candle lighting: 6:17 PM
  • Sunset: 6:36 PM

Sat Oct 3 · Shabbat / Shemini Atzeret

  • Latest Shema: 9:13 AM (MGA, 72-min; 16.1° gives 9:09 AM) or 9:49 AM (GRA)
  • Latest Tefillah: 10:23 AM (MGA) or 10:47 AM (GRA)
  • Chatzot: 12:44 PM
  • Mincha gedola: 1:13 PM
  • Plag hamincha: 5:21 PM
  • Sunset: 6:34 PM
  • Second-night candle lighting & preparation not before 7:24 PM, from an existing flame

Sun Oct 4 · Simchat Torah

  • Chatzot: 12:44 PM
  • Sunset: 6:32 PM
  • Yom Tov ends (Havdalah): 7:23 PM (Hebcal Bronx, 50 min). Some wait until 7:44 PM (72 min).

Coming up

  • Next weekly parasha: Bereshit
  • Candles Fri Oct 9 at 6:06 PM

Times: Hebcal Bronx geonameid 5110266 / 10471-style. Rabbi inputs file was missing this week — not Rabbi-confirmed. Confirm with your community custom for Havdalah.

Illustration

After the guests leave

Family lingering after Sukkot; empty sukkah behind, intimate eighth-day sky
Scene — lingering after Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret’s quieter sky

Closing Comic

We finished… wait, we started again

Comic: finishing the Torah and immediately opening Bereishit
Clean humor — every ending is a beginning

Prefer paper? Print this edition (letter size, B&W-friendly)