With God's help, Hoshana Rabbah 5781

To the questioner—greetings,

Two central themes are expressed in the hoshanot liturgical poems, and especially on Hoshana Rabbah: the request for water and the request for redemption. Since on the festival people are judged regarding water, they would circle the altar with the four species, which express the vegetation's need for water; and on Hoshana Rabbah, the conclusion of the festival, when judgment regarding water is finalized, they would circle seven times in prayer for water.

And likewise they would beat the willow branches, which symbolize more than the other species the plant's need for water. Perhaps the willows symbolize the raindrops for which we hope and pray—that they should strike the thirsty earth with force and soak it with water.

In times when there is no Temple, the circuits remind us of the Temple that was destroyed, and we also pray for redemption and for the rebuilt Temple.

In the blessing: “Answer those who ask, by means of the square of water-needing trees, for the sake of the mound of glory from which water springs forth; let the earth open and let the heavens pour down.”

Happy holidays,
Shatz

“By means of the square of water-needing trees” means “through four trees that require water.”