The seventh day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, 21st day of Tishrei, is known as Hoshanah Rabbah (הושענא רבא, in Aramaic, Great Hoshanah/ Supplication). This day is marked by a special synagogue service, the Hoshanah Rabbah, in which seven circuits are made by the worshippers with their lulav and etrog, while the congregation recites Psalm 118:25 and additional prayers. It is customary in some communities for all the scrolls of the Torah to be removed from the ark and lead this procession.
| Hoshanah Rabbah | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Hebrew: הושענא רבא |
| Also called | Translation: "The Great Supplication" |
| Observed by | Judaism and Jews |
| Type | Jewish |
| Significance | The culmination of Sukkot. |
| Date | 21rd day of Tishrei |
| Related to | Culmination of Sukkot (Tabernacles) |
Themes
Final judgement
Hoshanah Rabbah is known as the day of the final sealing of judgment, which began on Rosh Hashanah. During the festival of Sukkot the world is judged for water and for the blessings of the fruit and crops. The seventh day of the festival is the final sealing and since human life depends on water, Hoshanna Rabbah is somewhat similar to Yom Kippur. Hence there are additional prayers and quests for repentance as on Yom Kippur. In this spirit, the cantor wears a kittel as on the High Holidays. Hoshanah Rabbah has an interesting status as sort of a High Holiday (due to it being the final day for judgment) and in between a Chol HaMoed and full-fledged Yom Tov, and in this spirit the cantor, in the Ashkenazic tradition, recites the service using High Holiday, Festival, Weekday, and Sabbath melodies interchangably.
Among Sephardic Jews, prayers known as "Selihot" (forgiveness) are recited before the regular morning service (these are the same prayers recited before Rosh Hashanah). In Amsterdam and in a few places in England, America, and elsewhere, the shofar is also sounded in connection with the processions. The latter practice reflects the idea that Hoshanah Rabbah is the end of the high holiday season, when the world is judged for the coming year.
Day prior to Shmini Aseret/Simhat Torah
There is a custom to read the book of Deuteronomy on the night of Hoshanah Rabbah. On Simchat Torah, the book of Deuteronomy is concluded and the new cycle of the Torah, beginning with Genesis commences.
Rituals and customs
The reasons for many of the customs of the day are rooted in Kabbalah.
Seven hoshanot
The modern day observance of the rituals of Hoshana Rabbah are reminiscent of the practices that existed in the times of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. During Sukkot, the four species are taken in a circuit around (inscribing the perimeter, not circumscribing the actual building) the synagogue once daily. On Hoshanah Rabbah, there are seven circuits.
Making a circuit around the reading desk on Sukkot while each person holds the Four species in his hands has its origin in the Temple service, as recorded in the Mishnah: "It was customary to make one procession around the altar on each day of Sukkot,and seven on the seventh day" [Sukkah 4:5]. The priests carried the palm branches or willows in their hands. The entire ceremony is to demonstrate rejoicing and gratitude for a blessed and fruitful year. Moreover, it serves to tear down the iron wall that separates us from our Father in Heaven, as the wall of Jericho was encompassed "and the wall fell down flat" (Joshua 6). Furthermore, the seven circuits correspond to the seven words in the verse Erhatz benikayon kapoy, va'asovevah et mizbahakha-Hashem--"I wash my hands in purity and circle around Your altar, O Lord" (Psalms 26:6).
Each "hoshana" is done in honor of a patriach.
- Abraham
- Isaac
- Jacob
- Joseph (the three Patriarchs and Jacob's most famous son)
- Moses (the most important Hebrew prophet)
- Aaron (Moses's brother, the first Kohen Gadol, or High Priest)
- David (the most important king of Israel)
Tikkun Hoshanah Rabbah
Abudarham speaks of the custom of reading the Torah on the night of Hoshanah Rabbah, out of which has grown the modern custom of meeting socially on that night and reading from Deuteronomy, Psalms, and passages from the Zohar; reciting Kabbalistic prayers; and eating refreshments. In Orthodox Jewish circles, men will stay up all night learning Torah.
Sephardic Jews have a tradition of staying up the entire night on the eve of this day. Throughout the night in the synagogues, Torah learning takes place as well as praying the Selichot prayers. The entire book of Deuteronomy is read and reviewed. The reason for this is because this book is considered by some as a "review" of the entire Torah, but also because in the Torah portion cycle, the book of Deuteronomy is about to be completed the following days on Simchat Torah.
Five willow branches
At the conclusion of a number of Piyyutim (liturgical poems), five willow branches are beaten on the ground or other surface to symbolize the elimination of sin. This is also symbollic as a prayer for rain and success in agriculture. According to Kabbalah, beating the ground with the five willow branches is done to "Sweeten the Five Severities". There is no blessing said for this ritual, but the Aramaic expression "chabit, chabit velah barich" is chanted.
Prayers for Messiah
The hoshanot are accompanied by a series of liturgical verses ending with, "Kol mevasser, mevasser ve-omer" (A voice brings news, brings news and says)—expressing hope for the speedy coming of the Messiah.
Other
One should not look at the sky at night on this holiday because you would be able to see the future of the upcoming year if you do (Zohar).
See Also
External links
 | This Judaism-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |