Sh'mini Atzeres

At the end of Sukos there is an eighth day, called Atzeres in the Bible, a separate feast without the symbols of hut, palm branch and fruit.
This day has become one of the merriest in Jewish calendar. The reading of the Torah comes to an end with the last chapter of Deuteronomy and begins again with Genesis; for this reason the holiday has acquired another name, the Celebration of the Law; Simkhas Torah.
The essence everywhere is the same; dancing and singing, excitement, music, joking, joy within the usually solemn precincts of worship. Seven times, chanting processions circle the Synagogue with all the Holy Scrolls. Flag-waving children march behind in cheery disorder. The honors of the day, grand prizes of congregation life, go to members distinguished in learning, compassion, or hard work for the Synagogue. The man/woman who speaks the benediction over the last verses of the Torah is Bridegroom/Bride of the Law. He/she is immediately followed by the Bridegroom/Bride of Genesis, saying the blessing over the first chapter of the Bible, ‘in the beginning ….’ which the Sexton chants forthwith. A powerful jubilation irradiates the Synagogue. The time comes when the Rabbi is drawn into the rejoicing and solemnly dances with a Holy Scroll in his/her arms.
Simkhas Torah begins at nightfall on Thursday, October 23. Only when one has worked at something and has striven mightily to obtain it will he be truly joyous when he finally arrives at its conclusion. Similarly with the joy of Simkhas Torah: this fulsome manner of joy is only to be obtained on Shemini Atzeres, upon concluding the Torah that we have studied - Torah that is acquired through our own toil and effort.
A little deeper: It is the "Farewell day/party" of the holidays, since there are no more festivals of that caliber until Passover, in over six months, using the Eighth Day to say goodbye and bless the people before they went home.
Too often we get wrapped up in the supposed or superficial restrictions placed on us by Halacha and blind ourselves as to its wonderful advantages. Many of us feel trapped by it and thus highlight its negatives without realizing that if we were to think about all the positives it provides we might not feel so trapped after all. That is the purpose and the challenge of Simkhas Torah - to overcome our instinctual critiques of our ancestors' religion, and in its place heap the lavish praise upon it that it rightfully deserves.
The Jewish people do so for they have lived for thousands of years in the faith that in G-d’s good time He will restore the nation to its soil, and that the festivals will take on, in the latter days, their ancient force and beauty!
The purpose of the feast was a greater harvest of souls than G-d had presented at First Fruits. Y’Shua was crucified on Passover, buried on unleavened bread, raised on First Fruits, and had sent the Holy Spirit on Shavuo!