1. Students should know that Shemini Atzeret is a festival in its own right.

2. Students should know what the name means.

3. Students should understand the connection between Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah (see 'Basic Ideas').

4. Students should understand the basic concepts of Tefillat HaGeshem (the prayer for rain).

5. Students should know the difference between Tefillat HaGeshem (the General Prayer for Rain) on Shemini Atzeret and the Prayer for Immediate Rain, said for the first time at a later date (7th of Heshvan in Israel; elsewhere on the 5th or 6th of December).

6. Students should understand why we start again at the beginning, immediately after completing the Torah reading cycle.

7. Students should know that there is no genuine rejoicing, except with the Torah.