Candle-lighting time is not before 7:28 p.m. and should be done using a pre-existing flame. One should recite two brachot: L'hadlik Ner Shel Yom Tov and Shehechiyanu. When preparing for lighting candles on Yom Tov, one may not melt them into place. One may, however, remove leftover wax with a knife, but since this wax is muktzah, one should (preferably) drop it directly into the garbage can.
After Maariv (and Kiddush), we have Hakafot with celebration and dancing. In communities where it is customary to make Kiddush before Hakafot, they should be very careful not to get drunk at that point. The joy during Hakafot should be the joy of the Torah and not the joy of alcohol.
Tahalucha
The Lubavitcher Rebbe instituted that his chassidim visit Shuls of other communities on Simchat Torah. The purpose of this is that having “new faces” increases the joy in those shuls. This is referred to as Tahalucha (a march).
Hakafot
Some have a custom to leave a lit candle in the Aron Kodesh (holy ark) when all the Torah scrolls are removed. This is based on the verse, “For a mitzvah is a lamp, and the Torah is light.” Others question this practice. The Chabad custom is not to do this.
If necessary, one may do the hakafot without a minyan.
Hakhel – Simchat Torah Connection
The gathering of the Jewish people to sing and dance with the Torah is a similar experience to that of Hakhel, when all the Jewish people gathered to be inspired by the king’s reading of the Torah.
Atah Horeitah
It is customary to recite various significant Torah verses beginning with "Atah horeita" before beginning the hakafot. In some communities, the Aron Kodesh (holy ark) is opened during the Atah horeita when the verse vayhi binso'ah is recited. This is not the Chabad custom. The custom in the shul of the Lubavitcher Rebbe (in 770 Eastern Parkway) in the later years was to repeat the verses of Atah Horaitah three times. The Chabad custom is to add the verse Vehaya Zaracha etc. (Gen. 28:14) at the end of the third Atah Horaita.
