What Hoshanah Rabah Is
Hoshanah Rabah is the seventh day of Sukkot, the week-long Jewish festival of booths. It falls on the 21st day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, immediately before Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. The name means "Great Hosanna," referring to the special prayers for salvation recited on this day. In Israel, where Sukkot is observed for seven days (unlike the eight-day observance in the Diaspora), Hoshanah Rabah is the final day of the festival proper.
Origins and Religious Significance
Hoshanah Rabah is described in rabbinic literature as the day on which the divine judgment for the year, begun on Rosh Hashanah and sealed on Yom Kippur, is finally concluded. The day is associated with the ritual of the aravah (willow branch) and with the seven circuits (hakafot) around the synagogue reading platform, accompanied by prayers for rain and salvation. In the Land of Israel, where the rainy season begins around this time, the connection between Hoshanah Rabah and prayers for rain is especially resonant.
Customs and Traditions
- Seven hakafot: Worshippers circle the bimah seven times, holding the Four Species (lulav, etrog, hadassim, and aravot), reciting the Hoshanot prayers.
- Beating the willow: After the hakafot, it is customary to beat a bundle of willow branches on the ground, a practice symbolizing the removal of sin.
- Torah study: Many stay awake through the night of Hoshanah Rabah to study Torah, a custom known as tikkun Hoshanah Rabah.
- Final day in the sukkah: In Israel, Hoshanah Rabah is the last day on which the sukkah is used for meals, since Shemini Atzeret follows immediately.
Food and Drink
There is no single dish universally associated with Hoshanah Rabah. In many Israeli homes, the final meal in the sukkah on this day is a festive one, often featuring seasonal autumn produce and traditional holiday foods. Some communities serve soups and stews that reflect the change of season. As with all Sukkot meals, the emphasis is on eating in the sukkah with family and guests.
Religious and Civic Observances
In Israel, Hoshanah Rabah is a regular working day for most of the population, though religious Jews treat it as a semi-festive day. Synagogues hold extended morning services with the full Hoshanot liturgy. Many workplaces and schools operate normally, but observant employees may request time off or arrive late. The day is not a public holiday in the Israeli civic calendar, unlike the first and last days of Sukkot.
Public Festivities
Because Hoshanah Rabah is not a national holiday, public festivities are largely confined to religious neighborhoods and synagogue communities. In Jerusalem, particularly in neighborhoods such as Mea Shearim and the Old City, the day is marked with large public gatherings and processions. In other cities, celebrations are centered on local synagogues. The day is also a popular time for the final visits to sukkot in public squares and community centers before they are dismantled.
Regional Variations
- Jerusalem: The day has a distinctive atmosphere, with many synagogues hosting large hakafot and public willow-beating ceremonies. The proximity to the Western Wall draws worshippers for early morning prayers.
- Bnei Brak and other Haredi centers: Observance is intense, with all-night study sessions and large communal gatherings.
- Tel Aviv and secular areas: The day passes largely unnoticed, though some secular Israelis may visit sukkot of friends or attend cultural events linked to the Sukkot holiday season.
- Development towns and peripheral regions: Observance follows the general pattern of the local community, with synagogues serving as the main venue for Hoshanah Rabah prayers.
Conclusion
Hoshanah Rabah in Israel is a day of intense religious focus within a largely ordinary working week. Its customs—the seven circuits, the willow-beating, and the night of study—are observed primarily in synagogues and religious communities. While it lacks the public holiday status of other Sukkot days, it remains a significant marker of the festival's conclusion and a time of prayer for the coming year's rains and blessings.