Tuesday night
Hoshana Rabbah, 21 Tishrei, 5785
Today’s ushpizin are Dovid Hamelech and the Rebbe Rashab.
We stay up the entire night. Before chatzos, say the entire Chumash Devarim. (This is not done with a minyan.)
After chatzos, say the entire Tehillim (together with the minyan). Wear a gartel, and say it quickly.
After each sefer say the Yehi Ratzon for Hoshana Rabba, as well as the Yehi Ratzon said “after the moon rises” (both are printed in the back of the Tehillim). However, do not say the Yehi Ratzon for Yom Tov.
Between sefarim, the gabba’im distribute sweet apples, to be dipped in honey and eaten in the sukkah (either in the shul’s sukkah or later in your private sukkah).
There were times when the Rebbe mentioned the custom of saying passages of Zohar on the night of Hoshana Rabba (as printed in Tikkun Leil Hoshana Rabba).
The Rebbe encouraged using any spare time you have tonight for simchas beis hasho’eivah—before Chumash Devarim, between Chumash Devarim and Tehillim, and/or after Tehillim.
If you were up the entire night, at alos hashachar use the restroom, wash negel vasser, and recite the morning berachos as usual.
Wednesday
Hoshana Rabbah, 21 Tishrei, 5785
Today is the last day we shake the lulav.
The morning davening
Prepare a bundle of five aravos to be used after Hoshanos. Bundles should be prepared for women and children as well.
Before Hallel, remove the top two rings from the lulav. Only the three rings binding the hadassim and aravos to the lulav remain.
After Hallel, all the Sifrei Torah are removed from the aron kodesh, and they are held next to (or placed on) the bimah.
Repeat the six paragraphs said on the previous days of Sukkos, circling the bimah by each one, as was done on the previous days. After each circuit, say the possuk printed at the end of the paragraph.
Next, say the paragraph Lemaan eisan and circle the bimah a seventh time. (Here as well, each phrase is preceded by the word hoshana, and beginning with the letter samech or ayin, each phrase is both preceded and followed by the word hoshana.) Then say the pesukim printed at the end of the paragraph.
Continue with Ani vahu hoshiah na, the paragraph Kehoshata, and Ani vahu hoshiah na (Hoshiah es amecha will be said later). Next, say the added sections for Hoshana Rabba, beginning with Titneinu lesheim velis’hillah.
Conclude by saying Kol mevaser mevaser ve’omer three times, followed by Hoshiah es amecha. The Sifrei Torah are returned to the aron kodesh and the chazzan says Kaddish Shalem.
Put down the lulav and esrog, lift the bundle of five aravos, and then strike them on the ground five times. Continue by saying the Yehi Ratzon.
This is followed by Shir Shel Yom, LeDovid Hashem Ori, and krias hatorah.
The aliyos in today’s kriah are as follows: for Kohen we read Uvayom hachamishi; for Levi we read Uvayom hashishi; for the third aliyah we read Uvayom hashevi’i; and for the fourth aliyah we read Uvayom hashishi and Uvayom hashevi’i.
In Musaf, insert the paragraphs Uvayom hashishi... Uvayom hashevi’i.
During the day
During today’s meal, dip the Hamotzi challah into honey.
It is customary to eat kreplach on Hoshana Rabba.
Give tzedakah today for the two days of Yom Tov and for Shabbos.
Eruv tavshilin
Since Yom Tov leads directly into Shabbos, it is necessary to make an eruv tavshilin to enable preparation on Friday for Shabbos.
Take a loaf of bread or challah (at least the size of a kebeitzah, i.e., 2 oz.) and a piece of fish or meat (at least the size of a kezayis, i.e., 0.9 oz.). Give them to another adult (if possible, an individual who is a non-dependent) and say the sentence of Ani mezakeh (as printed in the siddur).
Next, the other person lifts the bread and cooked dish a tefach high (approximately three inches) and returns them to you. Finally, make the berachah and say the paragraph of Bedein yehei shara lana (as printed in the siddur). If you do not understand this final sentence in Aramaic, say it in English.
