The Awesome Judgment
Hoshana Rabba is a day of judgment. It is the completion of the judgment of Rosh Hashanah and of Yom Kippur.36 Shas and poskim hardly mention the judgment of Hoshana Rabbah, and therefore, many people aren't aware of it. Especially in the past, it was concealed from most people. Those who studied kabbalah knew that Hoshana Rabba was a day of judgment, but the vast majority of people didn't know about it.
Why was the judgment of Hoshana Rabba unknown in the past? Reb Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt'l explains that in the past, people were very afraid on a day of judgment. If they knew that Hoshana Rabbah is a day of judgment, it would ruin their simchas Yom Tov, and they wouldn't be able to perform the mitzvah of ושמחת בחגיך. Therefore, it was destined that people shouldn't know about the judgment, and it was only discussed in kabbalah sefarim. In later generations, the fear of judgment isn't as intense as it used to be, and therefore, more sefarim reveal to us that a tremendous and awesome judgment transpires on Hoshana Rabbah. What will occur this year is largely dependent on this day.
Reb Shlomo Zalman adds that there was one aspect of judgment on Hoshana Rabba that was known to the earlier doros. The Mishnah states, בחג נידונים על המים "Succos we are judged for rain." The amount of rain this year is judged and determined on Succos and on Hoshana Rabba. The Levush writes, "Therefore, people light more candles in the beis midrash on Hoshana Rabbah, similar to Yom Kippur, because it is the final day of judgment for rain." It was always known that Hoshana Rabbah was a day of judgment for rain. In later generations, it became known that it is also a day of judgment for all areas of life.
Reb Shlomo Zalman explains that in the past, rain meant life. If it didn't rain, people would die from thirst. Today, things have changed because water can be transported if needed. (The Chazon Ish ruled that we don't fast for rain anymore because a lack of rain isn't as tragic as it used to be.) Therefore, years ago, it was sufficient for people to know that they were being judged for rain, and this would arouse them to teshuvah, tefillah, and tzedakah. Today, that isn't enough. Therefore, the sefarim revealed more details of the awesome judgment of this day. All matters and salvations are judged and determined on this day.37