5782-2021
Rabbi Hayim Asher Arking
WHAT IS HOSHA'NA RABBA?
The day is called hosha' = save; na = please; rabba = great as there are three designated days in the calendar for good judgment, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and Hosha'na Rabba. A judge can sign a court order, however, when it is handed over to the clerk is when it will go into effect. On Hosha'na Rabba decisions from Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are sent out to be delivered. We can, on this day, beseech Hashem, The Judge, before He hands decrees to His 'clerks' to reverse His decision.
Every day of Sukkot we walk around the Torah with our lulav and Etrog in hand asking Hashem hosha' na - to please bring salvation and goodness throughout the year. On the last day of Hol Hamo'ed Sukkot, as this is the seventh time that we encircle the Torah and the climax of Sukkot, we ask for salvation and help from Hashem in many ways, namely regarding the crops and rain.
In the times of the Bet Hamikdash, circling the mizbeach with aravot was performed every day of Sukkot once, and on the seventh day — Hosha'na Rabba - seven times. This was so important, that even if it occurred on Shabbat, circling the mizbeach with aravot was still performed in the Bet Hamikdash.
WHAT DO WE DO SPECIAL ON THIS DAY?
1) We study the tikkun throughout the night reviewing the entire Sefer Devarim before midnight and then recite Tehillim with excerpts of selihot. We recite Hashem Hu HaElokim in Shaharit as we do during the High Holidays.
2) After hallel we circle the Torah seven times reciting the hosha'not prayers which are all encompassing as will be detailed.
3) After the Tefillah we take five aravot and bang it against the dirt. It is customary after banging the aravot to go back inside the Bet Haknesset, open the hechal and recite Nishmat kol hai until and not including the blessing by Yishtabah.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE EXTRA HOSHA'NOT PRAYERS?
We go around the Torah seven times with our lulav and etrog asking "hosha'na" — please help — while mentioning Selihot that upon each segment highlight the merit of one of the seven ushpizin, the first one corresponding to Avraham, the second to Yishak, etc.
After the seventh circuit, we then build upon the refrain of hosha'na to more and more steps of beseeching, totaling ten steps.