Hoshanah Rabbah
INTRODUCTION
Hoshanah Rabbah finalizes the period of judgment begun on Rosh Hashanah. There are therefore many customs associated with this day such as extra prayer and study, greatly extended Hosha'anah ceremony, beating the Aravos, holding a festive meal.
BIGGER SIMCHAS BEIS HASHO’EVAH IN LESS TIME
Despite there being much to be done in Torah study, prayer and acts of kindness on both the night and day of Hoshanah Rabbah, we should nevertheless continue and even further increase our celebration of Simchas Beis HaSho'evah; a Jew is capable of condensing an entire world into just a fleeting moment1 [and we should therefore fully exert ourselves to accomplish all our tasks within the limited time available.]
TEHILIM, APPLES AND HONEY
As was customary in the past, the Gabaim of the Shul should hand out apples and honey to those who say Tehilim2.
TEHILIM OR APPLE IN THE SUKKAH
It used to be that one would say Tehilim in the Sukkah and then eat the apple there immediately; if Tehilim was recited elsewhere, he would make (at least) a mental note to eat the apple later in the Sukkah or outside of the Sukkah once it is again permissible to do so.2
WHOLE DEVARIM AND TEHILIM AT NIGHT
The tasks of Hoshanah Rabbah are (like the meaning of its name, 'Rabbah') great and large: We increase in many facets of divine service, including reciting the whole Book of Devarim and the entire Tehilim during the night.
MORE TORAH, TEFILAH AND MIVTZAH LULAV
All the days of Sukkos are marked by an increase in prayer and Torah study and also assisting Jews in performing the Mitzvah of Lulav throughout the day; on Hoshanah Rabbah, however (in keeping with the greatness of the day, when we obtain, as the expression goes, Ah Guten Kvitel, ‘a good note' for the coming year) we should place further, extra effort in all of the above.3
1. Instant Avodah
Even those spiritual tasks that take a lengthy amount of time to accomplish (at a regular time of the year or even in the very days [of Sukkos] prior to Hoshanah Rabbah), are now accomplished [on Hoshanah Rabbah] in a manner of 'not being delayed for even the blink of an eye'; they are accomplished 'in a solitary moment and in a single instant.' (Night of Hoshanah Rabbah 5750; Hisvaaduyos p.194)
2. Night of Hoshanah Rabbah 5752; Sichos Kodesh p.180.
3. Without a break
On the night of Hoshanah Rabbah we recite the Book of Devarim together with the Book of Tehilim without a break in between, even though many congregations do pause in between to eat an apple with honey. (Fifth Night of Sukkos 5749; Hisvaaduyos p.161)
Why don't we eat the apple in between Devarim and Tehilim?
However, many communities do not have this custom, for various reasons. Especially in Chabad where we are stringent not to eat anything outside the Sukkah, we are unable to eat the apple between the reading of Devarim and Tehilim; and it would be a great bother for the entire congregation to all go out at once into the Sukkah with their books of Tehilim - particularly, since the Sukkah is not even big enough to fit everyone present. Further, [said the Rebbe jokingly], it is customary for the Gabaim of the Shul who hand out the apples and since 'whenever there is a change of place, there is a change of Mazal,' we will have to check the Mazal of everyone here and find out who is fitting to be the special Gabai just for the Sukkah, as it is entirely possible that the Gabai appropriate for the Sukkah is not the same Gabai who is fitting for the Shul... (ibid, footnote 44) Mayanei Hayeshuah 5751; Hisvaaduyos p.148-149.
Act otherwordly today
There are 'worldly' individuals - in the sense of the Hebrew root of the word for 'world' (Olam, עולם) which also connotes a 'concealment (Helem העלם) of G-dliness. Nevertheless, when they check their calendar and notice that today is Hoshanah Rabbah - the day when they are able to secure a 'good note' [for the coming year] - then despite their conduct during previous days, they now make an effort to occupy themselves with the tasks of Hashanah Rabbah. (ibid, footnote 197)
