Before Musaf
Sephardim say Tikkun HaGeshem after the haftarah, before Musaf, with piyyutim asking for rain "for blessing and not for curse, for life and not for death, for plenty and not for famine."
Holidays22 Tishrei · The eighth day
A festival of its own after Sukkot: one more day with the King, and the prayer for rain.
NextBegins at sundown Friday, October 22 · ends at nightfall Saturday, October 23, 2027
"On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly" (Numbers 29:35). Shemini Atzeret comes right after the seven days of Sukkot, but it is a separate festival, with its own Sheheheyanu and without the sukkah's blessing or the four species.
Rashi brings the parable of a king who invited his children to a feast and, when it was time for them to leave, said: "Your parting is hard for me; stay one more day."
After the offerings of Sukkot for all seventy nations, Shemini Atzeret is the intimate day between God and Israel.
Tikkun HaGeshem
Sephardim say Tikkun HaGeshem after the haftarah, before Musaf, with piyyutim asking for rain "for blessing and not for curse, for life and not for death, for plenty and not for famine."
From Musaf of Shemini Atzeret until Pesah, the Amidah praises God "who makes the wind blow and the rain fall."
Rain falling during Sukkot would spoil the sukkah, so we wait until the festival is over to ask for it.
Keeping the day
Outside Israel, Sephardim eat in the sukkah on Shemini Atzeret without its blessing (Shulhan Arukh 668:1), and leave it on Simchat Torah.
Many Sephardic congregations recite Hashkavah for the departed; the Ashkenazi Yizkor is not said in most Sephardic synagogues.
In Israel the hakafot of Simchat Torah are held on this day. Outside Israel, some Sephardic communities also hold hakafot on the night of Shemini Atzeret.
Simchat TorahIn the synagogue
"Aser te'aser" and the festivals of the year. Maftir: Numbers 29:35–30:1.
Haftarah: 1 Kings 8:54–9:1, King Solomon blesses the people at the dedication of the Temple
Keep learning
Questions
It follows Sukkot but is a festival of its own: it has its own Sheheheyanu, and there is no lulav or sukkah blessing.
Outside Israel, yes, without the blessing, following the Shulhan Arukh. In Israel, the sukkah is not used.
Sephardim say Tikkun HaGeshem before Musaf on Shemini Atzeret, and begin "Mashiv haruah umorid hageshem" in that Musaf.
Most Sephardic congregations say Hashkavah for the departed instead.