[Avodah] Hoshana Rabbah

[Cantor Wolberg]

Someone once said that in parts of pre-war Eastern Europe Hoshana Rabbah was known as Yom Kippur Katan. Normally, Yom Kippur Katan refers to the day before Rosh Chodesh as this is likened to a beginning and therefore, more of an opportunity to do teshuva. It does make perfect sense that Hosahana Rabbah would be understood in this way since it resembles a minor Yom Kippur in some ways.  

In the Midrash, God says to Abraham, "I will give your descendants a special day for forgiveness: Hoshana Rabbah. If they are not forgiven on Rosh Hashana then let them try Yom Kippur; if not, then Hoshana Rabbah."  Also, some of the nusah for Hoshana Rabbah is the same as Yom Kippur in both text and melody. 

Rabbi Yeshaya Horowitz, author of Shelah (Shnei Luchot Habrit) compares the ten days between Yom Kippur and Hoshana Rabbah to the Aseres Y'mei Teshuva, Ten Days of Repentance. Also, in some places (don’t ask me where) on Hoshana Rabbah it is a custom for some people to wish each other a "pitka tava," which means "a good ticket" (hopefully, front row center). This refers to the idea that the ultimate and final sealing of one's yearly judgment occurs on Hoshana Rabbah (sort of a last ditch effort).

Wishing each other “pitka tava” made me think of an interesting analogy.  When one goes to the theater or concert, the better the seat, the more it costs.  So it is, how we conduct our lives. The more effort we put in and the harder we work determines the location of the heavenly concert.

May we transfer our sins to the willows and beat the “hell” out of them.
A guten Hoishana and Yom Tov.
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