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There's a funny day tacked on to the end of Sukkot– the day before the last day(s), which are, parallel to Pesach / Passover's structure, holy day(s).* It's called Hoshana Rabba, and it's tomorrow.
So first of all, join me tonight!!
1st Annual Reb Arthur Waskow Hoshanah Rabbah Torah Soak
Thursday, October 1, 2026 7:30 PM ET
With Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg
The name comes from – הושע נא / hoshea na, "save, please" (yep: hosanna) and rabba just means "big," or "great," basically. It's the big day when we ask for our butts to be saved.
*Whether one observes (most) holy days as one day or two days is in part about whether one is in the Holy Land or the Diaspora, has ancient origins, and is a whole other (now controversial) story (sharing one point of view, there are many.)There's actually a lot that's weird, interesting and mystical here, so let's go.
The holiday is really wild and ancient – its connection to willows seems to go way back – but it also, as you'll see, the layers of metaphysics implied in this small ritual might blow your mind.
Before we get to the willow smacking: Over the whole holiday of Sukkot, people have been making circles around the synagogue (symbolically, the Temple's altar) with prayers beseeching God to save them.
Then we get to Hoshana Rabba / The Big Save, and circle seven times, with this kind of desperate, rising liturgy:
As you saved…[various biblical figures].. so please save! / אָנָּא הושִׁיעָה נָא
Please, save please! Please, God please, save please and deliver please! Please, God please, save please and deliver please, you are our parent! Save please, God please, please deliver, please! Save please, forgive please and make us prosper please, and deliver us, God our strength! Have mercy, please... and deliver us, God our savior! Open the gates of heaven and open up the storage rooms of your bounty to us, You will save us and not extend the quarrel; deliver us, God our savior!
What's this desperation all about? And what does it have to do with beating willows? Well: