Tag Archives: Hoshana Raba

Hoshana Raba. Shmini Atzeret. What’s that, you ask?

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Tomorrow night begins the 7th day of Sukot- and it has a special name-  Hoshana Raba.  It’s kind of like a mini-Yom Kipur.  During the morning  services, we destroy the willow branches that are part of the Lulav and Etrog (see the picture below) we’ve employed during this seven day festival.  We either do this because it was part of the rain-bringing rituals that existed centuries ago- or to remind us of repentance.  (The origin of the practice is simply not clear to us today.)  This day marks the period of atonement and introspection that we began some 50 days ago when the new moon (month) of Elul rolled around.

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The last holiday for a while

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Tonight begins a most unusual holiday.  More importantly, from a practical point of view, this holiday is the last one that will preclude me from work for a while- all the way until late March of the coming year!  (Now, this is really good news.  Because, I can finally make some money!) The Tora gives us very little clue about this holiday or its requirements.  It’s simply called the Eighth Day of Assembly (Shmini Atzeret).

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Helping Hand

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I thought I was going to hear an inspiring story right before the Ne’ila service of Yom Kipur. (Ne’ila is an additional service- the only time one ever has such a service is during Yom Kipur. It is when many of us take off our shoes (a sign of penitence; and ) during this prayer service for which we all stand. Many folks envision this service as the “closing of the gates”, the time on the most holy day of the year when we seek forgiveness for our failings and assistance for the rest of our lives, when the “judgement time” is nigh.)

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Stop? Assembly? Who knows….

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Last night was the 7th day of Sukot- but it has a special name-  Hoshana Raba.  Kind of like a mini-Yom Kipur.  During services, we destroy the willow branches that are part of the Lulav and Etrog (see the picture below) we’ve employed during this seven day festival.  We either do this because it was part of the rain-bringing rituals that existed centuries ago- or to remind us of repentance.  (The origin of the practice is simply not clear to us today.)

Continue reading Stop? Assembly? Who knows….

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