Hoshana Rabbah Day
Parsha Halacha | October 23, 2024
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Hoshana Rabbah Day

Parsha Halacha | June 27, 2025

It is especially proper to wear Shabbat clothes on this day. The appropriate greeting for this day is “Gut Yom Tov” or “Chag Same’ach.”

Some wish each other a “gmar tov,” “gmar chatimah tovah,” “a gutt kvittel,” or “pitka tava.” This means that the final sealing of the judgment should be a good one. Although this is not the official Chabad custom, the Lubavitcher Rebbe used these expressions on several occasions.

  • The Ot Chaim Veshalom (by the Munkatcher Rebbe, Rabbi Chaim Elazar Spira) says that one should not say “gmar tov,” which literally means “good ending,” but rather, ”gmar chatimah tovah” – a sealing for the good.

It is customary in many communities to come to Shul early on this day.

  • There are five days that one should arise early to go to Shul: Rosh HaShana, Yom Kippur, Hoshana Rabbah, Purim, Tisha Be'Av
  • A mnemonic to remember these days is the verse וַיַשְׁכֵּם אַבְׁרָהָם בַבֹּקֶר (“Avraham arose early in the morning.”
  • אַבְׁרָהָם stands for אב (Tisha Be'Av), בריאת העולם (Rosh HaShana, day of Briat Ha’olam/creation of the world), רבה (a reference to Yom Kippur which is referred to as the great fast day [Rabbah means great]), הושענה רבה (Hoshana Rabbah), מגילה (Purim on which we read the Megillah)

Shacharit

In some communities, the chazzan wears a kittel (white garment resembling a shroud) on this day. This is not the Chabad custom.

  • Some have the custom of praying the Pesukei DeZimrah of Shabbat and Yom Tov on this day (except for Nishmat since there is no additional soul on Hoshana Rabbah) as well as the Kedusha of Musaf. This is not the Chabad custom. Indeed, the Arizal prayed the standard Chol HaMo’ed prayers on Hoshana Rabbah except for the Hoshanot.
  • Before Hallel, one should remove the two upper rings binding the lulav, leaving only the three bottom rings. (Some have the custom of removing the rings after Hallel, before Hoshanot.)
  • Several reasons are given for the custom of removing the binding rings: 1) To increase in joy with the extra spreading of the lulav branches. 2) The waving of the lulav is done as a prayer to G-d that He protect us from bad winds and dew. Thus, on the final day of the prayers for rain, the waving is increased. 3) The lulav branches, which are now more spread out, represent the Jewish people who are spread out amongst the nations.
  • The removal of the constricting rings also represents the easing of the birth pangs and birth of Moshiach.
  • It is customary to take out all the Sifrei Torah from the Aron Kodesh (holy ark) and have people hold them at the bimah (table for the Torah reading) during Hoshanot. Preferably, people who do not have their own lulav and etrog should be given this honor. If there are not enough people who do not have lulavim to hold the Torah scrolls, the scrolls should be placed on the bimah (Torah reading table). All the Hoshanot are then recited while the congregation and Chazzan circle the Bimah seven times (Siddur pg. 368). The Aron Kodesh remains open during the Hoshanot.
  • When reciting the Hoshanot, the Chabad custom is that the chazzan begins reading aloud from the stanzas which begin with the letter samach or ayin just as he does during the Hoshanot of the other days of Sukkot (according to Chabad custom).

Seven Circles

Several reasons are given for the seven circles around the Bimah.

  • This is similar to the procedure in the Bait HaMikdash on this day.
  • In addition, the number of circles around the bimah corresponds to the number of circles the Jews walked around the city of Jericho when conquering it. This may be related to the custom that some have to blow the shofar while circling the bimah. This is reminiscent of the Kohanim blowing the shofar while circling Jericho. In addition, our circling the bimah once on each of the first six days of Sukkot and seven times on the seventh day parallel the way the Jewish people encircled Jericho before the walls came tumbling down.
  • These seven circles also resemble the seven times the Kallah walks around the Chattan under the Chuppah. This is done to prepare the Chattan and Kallah for their unification. We are similarly preparing ourselves for our unification with G-d which takes place on Shemini Atzeret.

At the conclusion of the Hoshanot, the Sifrei Torah should be returned to the Aron Kodesh, and the Chazzan should recite Kaddish. One should then take the five Aravot and beat them on the ground five times. One then recites the paragraph beginning Yehi Ratzon.

According to the Arizal, one should not hold the aravot together with the lulav and etrog as this can cause an improper “mixture” of Chessed (kindness) and Gevurah (severity). Women customarily fulfill the minhag of striking the aravot on the floor.

What To Do with the Aravot and the Lulav and Etrog after Yom Tov?

  • Some have the custom to throw their Hoshanot on top of the Aron Kodesh (holy ark). Some relate this to the leaning of the aravot on the Mizbe'ach (holy altar) in the Beit HaMikdash.
  • The Lubavitcher Rebbe would often put the aravot in his Siddur and take them out of Shul with him.
  • Some save the aravot (as well as the lulav etc.) and use them for burning the Chametz before Pesach. If this is not possible, they burn them beforehand to ensure that they do not end up being treated in a disrespectful way.
  • Some say that carrying a leaf of the Hoshanot is a segulah (spiritually propitious act) for general protection, safe travels, protection from anxiety and bad dreams. It is also a segulah for having children since Arava is the same gematria as zera [seed].
  • Some have a custom of using the etrog as besomim (spices for havdalah); others cook it and make jam out of it. Eating it is considered a segulah for an easy childbirth. This is especially true if eaten on Tu Bishvat.
  • Some save the Haddassim and use them as besamim for havdalah.
  • There was a custom for pregnant women to bite off the pitam of the etrog as a segulah for an easy labor. Due to various Halachic issues, the halachic authorities are glad that the custom has fallen into neglect.
  • If one does not plan on using these items in the above ways, it is best not to throw them in the garbage. One should also not step on them. They can be left somewhere (under bushes or the like) where they do not get in the way and just naturally decompose. They can also be burned.
  • By the letter of the law, one may wrap them in a plastic bag and then throw them out.

Extra Tzedakah

It is proper to give extra Tzedakah on this day to sweeten the judgments just as the striking of the aravot sweetens the five levels of judgment.

Hoshana Rabbah Meal

It is customary to eat a festive meal in the Sukkah during the day of Hoshana Rabbah.

The meal should be eaten in the morning or early afternoon but not in the late afternoon as that would diminish one’s appetite for the evening Yom Tov meal. As such, one should begin this meal before 4:00 p.m. (a half hour before mincha ketana). No Kiddush is recited.

After reciting Hamotzi, one should dip the bread into honey. According to Chabad custom, this is the last “honey dip” of this season. It is not necessary to have lechem mishnah (two loaves of challah) at this meal.

Kreplach

Ashkenazim have a custom to eat kreplach (pockets of dough and meat) at this meal. The reason for this custom is that on Yom Tov days we eat meat. On days that are semi Yom Tov — Purim, Erev Yom Kippur and Hoshana Rabbah -- we eat a Yom Tov meal although work is not forbidden. On those days it is customary to eat meat that is covered with dough (kreplach).

In addition, the meat symbolizes (Divine) judgment and the dough (Divine) kindness. Thus, the covering of the meat with dough represents the tempering of the judgments with kindness.

It is especially proper to wear Shabbat clothes on this day. The appropriate greeting for this day is “Gut Yom Tov” or “Chag Same’ach.”

Some wish each other a “gmar tov,” “gmar chatimah tovah,” “a gutt kvittel,” or “pitka tava.” This means that the final sealing of the judgment should be a good one. Although this is not the official Chabad custom, the Lubavitcher Rebbe used these expressions on several occasions.

  • The Ot Chaim Veshalom (by the Munkatcher Rebbe, Rabbi Chaim Elazar Spira) says that one should not say “gmar tov,” which literally means “good ending,” but rather, ”gmar chatimah tovah” – a sealing for the good.

It is customary in many communities to come to Shul early on this day.

  • There are five days that one should arise early to go to Shul: Rosh HaShana, Yom Kippur, Hoshana Rabbah, Purim, Tisha Be'Av
  • A mnemonic to remember these days is the verse וַיַשְׁכֵּם אַבְׁרָהָם בַבֹּקֶר (“Avraham arose early in the morning.”
  • אַבְׁרָהָם stands for אב (Tisha Be'Av), בריאת העולם (Rosh HaShana, day of Briat Ha’olam/creation of the world), רבה (a reference to Yom Kippur which is referred to as the great fast day [Rabbah means great]), הושענה רבה (Hoshana Rabbah), מגילה (Purim on which we read the Megillah)

Shacharit

In some communities, the chazzan wears a kittel (white garment resembling a shroud) on this day. This is not the Chabad custom.

  • Some have the custom of praying the Pesukei DeZimrah of Shabbat and Yom Tov on this day (except for Nishmat since there is no additional soul on Hoshana Rabbah) as well as the Kedusha of Musaf. This is not the Chabad custom. Indeed, the Arizal prayed the standard Chol HaMo’ed prayers on Hoshana Rabbah except for the Hoshanot.
  • Before Hallel, one should remove the two upper rings binding the lulav, leaving only the three bottom rings. (Some have the custom of removing the rings after Hallel, before Hoshanot.)
  • Several reasons are given for the custom of removing the binding rings: 1) To increase in joy with the extra spreading of the lulav branches. 2) The waving of the lulav is done as a prayer to G-d that He protect us from bad winds and dew. Thus, on the final day of the prayers for rain, the waving is increased. 3) The lulav branches, which are now more spread out, represent the Jewish people who are spread out amongst the nations.
  • The removal of the constricting rings also represents the easing of the birth pangs and birth of Moshiach.
  • It is customary to take out all the Sifrei Torah from the Aron Kodesh (holy ark) and have people hold them at the bimah (table for the Torah reading) during Hoshanot. Preferably, people who do not have their own lulav and etrog should be given this honor. If there are not enough people who do not have lulavim to hold the Torah scrolls, the scrolls should be placed on the bimah (Torah reading table). All the Hoshanot are then recited while the congregation and Chazzan circle the Bimah seven times (Siddur pg. 368). The Aron Kodesh remains open during the Hoshanot.
  • When reciting the Hoshanot, the Chabad custom is that the chazzan begins reading aloud from the stanzas which begin with the letter samach or ayin just as he does during the Hoshanot of the other days of Sukkot (according to Chabad custom).

Seven Circles

Several reasons are given for the seven circles around the Bimah.

  • This is similar to the procedure in the Bait HaMikdash on this day.
  • In addition, the number of circles around the bimah corresponds to the number of circles the Jews walked around the city of Jericho when conquering it. This may be related to the custom that some have to blow the shofar while circling the bimah. This is reminiscent of the Kohanim blowing the shofar while circling Jericho. In addition, our circling the bimah once on each of the first six days of Sukkot and seven times on the seventh day parallel the way the Jewish people encircled Jericho before the walls came tumbling down.
  • These seven circles also resemble the seven times the Kallah walks around the Chattan under the Chuppah. This is done to prepare the Chattan and Kallah for their unification. We are similarly preparing ourselves for our unification with G-d which takes place on Shemini Atzeret.

At the conclusion of the Hoshanot, the Sifrei Torah should be returned to the Aron Kodesh, and the Chazzan should recite Kaddish. One should then take the five Aravot and beat them on the ground five times. One then recites the paragraph beginning Yehi Ratzon.

According to the Arizal, one should not hold the aravot together with the lulav and etrog as this can cause an improper “mixture” of Chessed (kindness) and Gevurah (severity). Women customarily fulfill the minhag of striking the aravot on the floor.

What To Do with the Aravot and the Lulav and Etrog after Yom Tov?

  • Some have the custom to throw their Hoshanot on top of the Aron Kodesh (holy ark). Some relate this to the leaning of the aravot on the Mizbe'ach (holy altar) in the Beit HaMikdash.
  • The Lubavitcher Rebbe would often put the aravot in his Siddur and take them out of Shul with him.
  • Some save the aravot (as well as the lulav etc.) and use them for burning the Chametz before Pesach. If this is not possible, they burn them beforehand to ensure that they do not end up being treated in a disrespectful way.
  • Some say that carrying a leaf of the Hoshanot is a segulah (spiritually propitious act) for general protection, safe travels, protection from anxiety and bad dreams. It is also a segulah for having children since Arava is the same gematria as zera [seed].
  • Some have a custom of using the etrog as besomim (spices for havdalah); others cook it and make jam out of it. Eating it is considered a segulah for an easy childbirth. This is especially true if eaten on Tu Bishvat.
  • Some save the Haddassim and use them as besamim for havdalah.
  • There was a custom for pregnant women to bite off the pitam of the etrog as a segulah for an easy labor. Due to various Halachic issues, the halachic authorities are glad that the custom has fallen into neglect.
  • If one does not plan on using these items in the above ways, it is best not to throw them in the garbage. One should also not step on them. They can be left somewhere (under bushes or the like) where they do not get in the way and just naturally decompose. They can also be burned.
  • By the letter of the law, one may wrap them in a plastic bag and then throw them out.

Extra Tzedakah

It is proper to give extra Tzedakah on this day to sweeten the judgments just as the striking of the aravot sweetens the five levels of judgment.

Hoshana Rabbah Meal

It is customary to eat a festive meal in the Sukkah during the day of Hoshana Rabbah.

The meal should be eaten in the morning or early afternoon but not in the late afternoon as that would diminish one’s appetite for the evening Yom Tov meal. As such, one should begin this meal before 4:00 p.m. (a half hour before mincha ketana). No Kiddush is recited.

After reciting Hamotzi, one should dip the bread into honey. According to Chabad custom, this is the last “honey dip” of this season. It is not necessary to have lechem mishnah (two loaves of challah) at this meal.

Kreplach

Ashkenazim have a custom to eat kreplach (pockets of dough and meat) at this meal. The reason for this custom is that on Yom Tov days we eat meat. On days that are semi Yom Tov — Purim, Erev Yom Kippur and Hoshana Rabbah -- we eat a Yom Tov meal although work is not forbidden. On those days it is customary to eat meat that is covered with dough (kreplach).

In addition, the meat symbolizes (Divine) judgment and the dough (Divine) kindness. Thus, the covering of the meat with dough represents the tempering of the judgments with kindness.

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Parsha Halacha | October 23, 2024