---
title: "Hebrew for Simchat Torah"
slug: "hebrew-for-simchat-torah"
canonical: "https://www.itsbaba.com/hebrew-for-simchat-torah"
question: "What do you say on Simchat Torah in Hebrew?"
answer: "Chag sameach. If you are asking about plans, ask about hakafot — that is the night’s event."
description: "What Israelis say on Simchat Torah: chag sameach, hakafot, and the difference from Sukkot. How to greet, and what the dancing is called."
cluster: "learning"
html_status: "live"
updated: "2026-09-11"
numbers_used: "[]"
competitors_named: "[]"
---

# Hebrew for Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah is the night the Torah scrolls come off the ark and the room starts moving. The greeting is still chag sameach. The word you need for the dancing is hakafot.

שמחת תורה. Friday 2 October – Saturday 3 October 2026 (Israel: 2 October).

## What do you say?

| Hebrew | Transliteration | English |
| --- | --- | --- |
| חג שמח | Chag sameach | Happy holiday |
| הקפות | Hakafot | Circuits with the Torah |
| שמחת תורה | Simchat Torah | Joy of the Torah |