Thursday, Tishrei 20, 5784 / October 5, 2023
Thursday night and Friday is Hoshana Raba. It is the final day for performing the mitzvah of reciting the blessing over the Etrog and Lulav. We also perform a special mitzvah called, “Hoshanot,” during the Friday morning prayer. We take five willow branches, recite a special prayer, we then bang the willow branches on the floor.
In the Diaspora, Friday night and Shabbat is the holiday of Shmini Atzeret. Saturday night and Sunday is Simchat Torah. In Israel, where only one day of Holiday is celebrated, Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are both on the same day, Friday evening and Shabbat.
On Shabbat, Shmini Atzeret, the Yizkor prayer is recited.We also say a special prayer called, Geshem, asking G-d for rain.
On Simchat Torah we read the last portion of the Torah – Parshat V’zot Habracha, which concludes the yearly Torah reading cycle and right afterwards we read from the beginning of the Torah - Parshat Breishis.
Q. What is the significance of Hoshana Raba?
A. At the time of the Holy Temple, they would take special long willow branches and encircle the altar with the branches during the Sukkot holiday. The tops of the branches would bend over the altar. The Kohanim (priests) would sound the Shofar and circle the altar once. On the seventh day of Sukkot (Hoshana Raba), they would circle the altar seven times. We too, each day of Sukkot encircle the “Bimah” holding the Lulav and Etrog, one time. On Hoshana Raba, we encircle the Bimah seven times to remember its practice in the Holy Temple.
Q. What does “Hosha-na” mean?
A. “Hoshana” means “please, help us.” As we conclude the season of the High Holidays, we ask G-d to help us in the New Year. We especially ask for proper rain which is the blessings of sustenance.
Q. What is the connection of the willow branch to our prayer for rain?
A. The willow is called, “Arvei nachal” - “Willows of the river.” They have a special need for water. Thus, they symbolize our need and prayer for rain. It is a custom established by the prophets.
Q. Why do we recite the special prayer for rain only on Shmini Atzeret and not during the Sukkot holiday?
A. During Sukkot we have the mitzvah of eatingoutside in the Sukkah and rain is not desirable at that time. We postpone the prayer for rain for Shmini Atzeret when there is no more mitzvah of sitting in the Sukkah.
CHAG SAMEACH – A HAPPY SUKKOT HOLIDAY, SHMEINI ATZERET & SIMCHAT TORAH