Hoshana Rabbah
Parsha Halacha | October 23, 2024
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Hoshana Rabbah

Parsha Halacha | June 27, 2025

Hoshana Rabbah (the last day of Sukkot) is the day on which the judgment of Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur is considered final. The Talmud says that on Sukkot we are judged for water upon which the entire food chain depends. Rabbi Akiva explains that this is symbolized by the water libations which took place on the Altar in the Holy Temple every day of Sukkot. Many of the Hoshanot prayers also deal with this judgment of water. In addition, the mitzvah of the four species represents the judgment for water as these species are especially dependent on water.

Since Hoshana Rabbah is the last day of Sukkot, this judgment is finalized on this day.

In addition, Hoshana Rabbah used to be the day that more (private) sacrifices were brought than on any other day of the year. This was because Hoshana Rabbah, being the last day of Sukkot, was the final day that one could bring the sacrifices one had pledged during the year and not transgress the prohibition of delaying the fulfillment of one's vows. (If one vowed to bring a sacrifice and delayed doing so past a full cycle of the three holidays of Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot [in that order], one would transgress the prohibition of delaying a sacrifice.) The Talmud says that rain is withheld for the sin of not fulfilling one's vows (to charity). For this reason, when bringing their sacrifices, the Jews would tie the animals with willow branches and say: “Master of the World, we have not withheld our vows to You. So please do not withhold from us. Just as these willows grow on water, so grant us water.”

The Zohar says that “On the seventh day of Sukkot, the judgment of the world is finalized, and the edicts are sent forth from the King... On Hoshana Rabbah the idolatrous nations come to the end of their blessings and enter into judgment while Israel comes to the end of its judgments and enters into its blessings. For on the next day (Shemini Atzeret), they rejoice privately with the King and receive blessings from Him for the entire year and obtain any request which they make.”

The Torah study, extensive prayers, and Hoshanot of this day reflect this judgment.

What's in the Name?

The name “Hoshana Rabbah” is given to this day because of the additional aravot/willows that were waved in the Bait HaMikdash and which we still wave on this day. The aravot are referred to as Hoshanot because we pray “hoshana” [save us] with the aravot.

In addition, Hoshana (הושע נא) can be translated as “save 51.” This alludes to the fact that this is the 51st day since Rosh Chodesh Elul (ibid) that we have been praying for salvation.

Torah Study

On the night of Hoshana Rabbah, it is customary to stay up all night and study Torah. This is reminiscent of David HaMelech (King David), the guest (ushpizin) of Hoshana Rabbah, who would stay up all night studying Torah and singing praises to the Al-mighty.

  • The widespread custom is to read the entire book of Devarim because that is where the main discussion of loving and fearing G-d is found. Most read it from a Chumash while many Chassidic groups read it from a Sefer Torah. This symbolizes the reading of this book by the Jewish king on Chol HaMo’ed Sukkot every seven years, in fulfillment of the mitzvah of Hakhel.
  • Some have the custom of reading the entire Chumash and reviewing any parsha (Torah portion) that one failed to review (shnayim mikra) during the course of the year.
  • It is also customary to read the entire Book of Tehillim. This alludes to the fact that David HaMelech, author of the book of Tehillim, is the honored Sukkot guest of Hoshana Rabbah.
  • It is preferable to read the Tehillim after midnight (1:04 a.m.) or at least after the moon rises. (The moon rises in Miami at 11:26 a.m. on the night of Hoshana Rabbah.) [See the end of the article for the times of other locations.]
  • The Chabad custom is to say Tehillim while wearing a gartel and to recite it quickly.
  • There is a special prayer (Yehi Ratzon) for Hoshana Rabbah that should be recited after each sefer (section) of Tehillim. This is in addition to the Yehi Ratzon that is recited when the moon is out. The Yehi Ratzon of Yom Tov should also be said. If there is a minyan present, Kaddish should be recited in between each sefer of Tehillim by a mourner or at the end of the Tehillim by someone whose parents have passed away if there are no mourners present.
  • There are also certain readings from the Zohar that are customarily recited on this night. The Sefardic custom is to recite these as part of the Tikun Leil Hoshana Rabbah. The Lubavitcher Rebbe mentioned this custom on several occasions.

Apples and Honey

  • The Lubavitcher Rebbe mentioned that there was an ancient custom for the Gabboim (shul attendants) to give out apples in Shul on this night during (or after) the saying of Tehillim. One should eat his apple in the Sukkah (after finishing Tehillim) and dip it in honey before doing so.
  • Some men have the custom to immerse in the Mikvah before dawn. The Rebbe Rashab would do this. Some (also) immerse before nightfall in order to study in a state of purity.
  • It is best for couples to refrain from relations on this night unless it is the Mikvah night.

Hoshanot, The Mitzvah of the Day

The Hoshanot are five willow branches (aravot) which are used during the prayers of Hoshana Rabbah (see below).

  • The Yemenite custom is to use three branches.
  • The custom of hitting the ground with willows originates from the prophets while the ritual of leaning willow branches against the altar in the Holy Temple (see below) was an oral tradition handed down from Sinai. This custom is so important that the Jewish calendar was structured in such a way to ensure that Hoshana Rabbah never coincides with Shabbat, thus making certain that this custom is fulfilled every year.
  • This is the reason for part of the rule that Lo Ad”u Rosh – The first day of Rosh Hashanah can never be on a Sunday, Wednesday, or Friday. Were Rosh Hashana to be on a Sunday, Hoshanah Rabbah would fall out on Shabbat.
  • It is customary in some communities to prepare Hoshanot for each member of the family including small children.
  • Although technically one can fulfill one's obligation with one willow branch that has only one leaf on it, it is customary to take five branches that are complete with leaves and that are fresh.
  • It is proper to use an unused set of aravot. If necessary, however, one may reuse someone else’s set.
  • The Arizal said that the aravot for the Hoshanot should have all the specifications that would make them kosher to use for the Lulav. Thus, the branches should be at least 3 tefachim (10 inches), which is the same length as the aravah in the Lulav.
  • Some have the custom to tie the branches together with a lulav leaf. One should not break off a leaf from his Lulav for this custom. If one’s Lulav is larger than the required size (four tefachim / handbreadths), some permit the removal of leaves from the bottom for this purpose. If one's aravot are tied with a rubber band, it is best not to hold them (while striking them – see below) in the place where the rubber band is.
  • Some have the custom of personally preparing the Hoshanot for every member of their family.
  • The Hoshanot should preferably be prepared at night. Some have a custom to pray for children to be upright Jews at this time. The gematria (numerical value) of ערבה /aravah (willow) is זרע /zerah (seed) – see below.
  • It is possible to discern one’s destiny in the coming year by standing in the moonlight on the night of Hoshana Rabbah and observing one’s shadow. Since most people do not know how to interpret this properly, it is recommended that one not try to do this. Rather, one should trust in Hashem and not seek to figure out the future.

Hoshana Rabbah (the last day of Sukkot) is the day on which the judgment of Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur is considered final. The Talmud says that on Sukkot we are judged for water upon which the entire food chain depends. Rabbi Akiva explains that this is symbolized by the water libations which took place on the Altar in the Holy Temple every day of Sukkot. Many of the Hoshanot prayers also deal with this judgment of water. In addition, the mitzvah of the four species represents the judgment for water as these species are especially dependent on water.

Since Hoshana Rabbah is the last day of Sukkot, this judgment is finalized on this day.

In addition, Hoshana Rabbah used to be the day that more (private) sacrifices were brought than on any other day of the year. This was because Hoshana Rabbah, being the last day of Sukkot, was the final day that one could bring the sacrifices one had pledged during the year and not transgress the prohibition of delaying the fulfillment of one's vows. (If one vowed to bring a sacrifice and delayed doing so past a full cycle of the three holidays of Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot [in that order], one would transgress the prohibition of delaying a sacrifice.) The Talmud says that rain is withheld for the sin of not fulfilling one's vows (to charity). For this reason, when bringing their sacrifices, the Jews would tie the animals with willow branches and say: “Master of the World, we have not withheld our vows to You. So please do not withhold from us. Just as these willows grow on water, so grant us water.”

The Zohar says that “On the seventh day of Sukkot, the judgment of the world is finalized, and the edicts are sent forth from the King... On Hoshana Rabbah the idolatrous nations come to the end of their blessings and enter into judgment while Israel comes to the end of its judgments and enters into its blessings. For on the next day (Shemini Atzeret), they rejoice privately with the King and receive blessings from Him for the entire year and obtain any request which they make.”

The Torah study, extensive prayers, and Hoshanot of this day reflect this judgment.

What's in the Name?

The name “Hoshana Rabbah” is given to this day because of the additional aravot/willows that were waved in the Bait HaMikdash and which we still wave on this day. The aravot are referred to as Hoshanot because we pray “hoshana” [save us] with the aravot.

In addition, Hoshana (הושע נא) can be translated as “save 51.” This alludes to the fact that this is the 51st day since Rosh Chodesh Elul (ibid) that we have been praying for salvation.

Torah Study

On the night of Hoshana Rabbah, it is customary to stay up all night and study Torah. This is reminiscent of David HaMelech (King David), the guest (ushpizin) of Hoshana Rabbah, who would stay up all night studying Torah and singing praises to the Al-mighty.

  • The widespread custom is to read the entire book of Devarim because that is where the main discussion of loving and fearing G-d is found. Most read it from a Chumash while many Chassidic groups read it from a Sefer Torah. This symbolizes the reading of this book by the Jewish king on Chol HaMo’ed Sukkot every seven years, in fulfillment of the mitzvah of Hakhel.
  • Some have the custom of reading the entire Chumash and reviewing any parsha (Torah portion) that one failed to review (shnayim mikra) during the course of the year.
  • It is also customary to read the entire Book of Tehillim. This alludes to the fact that David HaMelech, author of the book of Tehillim, is the honored Sukkot guest of Hoshana Rabbah.
  • It is preferable to read the Tehillim after midnight (1:04 a.m.) or at least after the moon rises. (The moon rises in Miami at 11:26 a.m. on the night of Hoshana Rabbah.) [See the end of the article for the times of other locations.]
  • The Chabad custom is to say Tehillim while wearing a gartel and to recite it quickly.
  • There is a special prayer (Yehi Ratzon) for Hoshana Rabbah that should be recited after each sefer (section) of Tehillim. This is in addition to the Yehi Ratzon that is recited when the moon is out. The Yehi Ratzon of Yom Tov should also be said. If there is a minyan present, Kaddish should be recited in between each sefer of Tehillim by a mourner or at the end of the Tehillim by someone whose parents have passed away if there are no mourners present.
  • There are also certain readings from the Zohar that are customarily recited on this night. The Sefardic custom is to recite these as part of the Tikun Leil Hoshana Rabbah. The Lubavitcher Rebbe mentioned this custom on several occasions.

Apples and Honey

  • The Lubavitcher Rebbe mentioned that there was an ancient custom for the Gabboim (shul attendants) to give out apples in Shul on this night during (or after) the saying of Tehillim. One should eat his apple in the Sukkah (after finishing Tehillim) and dip it in honey before doing so.
  • Some men have the custom to immerse in the Mikvah before dawn. The Rebbe Rashab would do this. Some (also) immerse before nightfall in order to study in a state of purity.
  • It is best for couples to refrain from relations on this night unless it is the Mikvah night.

Hoshanot, The Mitzvah of the Day

The Hoshanot are five willow branches (aravot) which are used during the prayers of Hoshana Rabbah (see below).

  • The Yemenite custom is to use three branches.
  • The custom of hitting the ground with willows originates from the prophets while the ritual of leaning willow branches against the altar in the Holy Temple (see below) was an oral tradition handed down from Sinai. This custom is so important that the Jewish calendar was structured in such a way to ensure that Hoshana Rabbah never coincides with Shabbat, thus making certain that this custom is fulfilled every year.
  • This is the reason for part of the rule that Lo Ad”u Rosh – The first day of Rosh Hashanah can never be on a Sunday, Wednesday, or Friday. Were Rosh Hashana to be on a Sunday, Hoshanah Rabbah would fall out on Shabbat.
  • It is customary in some communities to prepare Hoshanot for each member of the family including small children.
  • Although technically one can fulfill one's obligation with one willow branch that has only one leaf on it, it is customary to take five branches that are complete with leaves and that are fresh.
  • It is proper to use an unused set of aravot. If necessary, however, one may reuse someone else’s set.
  • The Arizal said that the aravot for the Hoshanot should have all the specifications that would make them kosher to use for the Lulav. Thus, the branches should be at least 3 tefachim (10 inches), which is the same length as the aravah in the Lulav.
  • Some have the custom to tie the branches together with a lulav leaf. One should not break off a leaf from his Lulav for this custom. If one’s Lulav is larger than the required size (four tefachim / handbreadths), some permit the removal of leaves from the bottom for this purpose. If one's aravot are tied with a rubber band, it is best not to hold them (while striking them – see below) in the place where the rubber band is.
  • Some have the custom of personally preparing the Hoshanot for every member of their family.
  • The Hoshanot should preferably be prepared at night. Some have a custom to pray for children to be upright Jews at this time. The gematria (numerical value) of ערבה /aravah (willow) is זרע /zerah (seed) – see below.
  • It is possible to discern one’s destiny in the coming year by standing in the moonlight on the night of Hoshana Rabbah and observing one’s shadow. Since most people do not know how to interpret this properly, it is recommended that one not try to do this. Rather, one should trust in Hashem and not seek to figure out the future.
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Parsha Halacha | October 23, 2024