Tonight s ţ he  the 7th day of Sukot- and this day has a special name-  Hoshana Raba. (Hoshana means “save us” or “return us.)  It’s kind of like a mini-Yom Kipur.

During the morning  services (those will be held tomorrow morning) , we destroy the willow branches that are part of the Lulav and Etrog (see the picture below) we’ve employed during this seven day festival.  We either do this because it was part of the rain-bringing rituals that existed centuries ago- or to remind us of repentance.  (The origin of the practice is simply not clear to us today.)  This day marks the culmination of the  period of atonement and introspection that we began some 50 days ago when the new moon (month) of Elul rolled around.

We Sefardi Jews also stay up all night tongiht.  Just like most of us do on Shvuot (the third of the festival holidays).  We study the Tora (in particular the book of Devarim or Deuteronomy) and recite the prayers asking for forgiveness.  On top of that, many of us recite the entire book of Psalms.

Those attending shul (synagogue) arrange to march 7 circuits about the synagogue.  And, where the leaders of the services are also carrying all the toras of the shul.  These seven circuits are to remind us of the 7 circuits that we effected about the city of Yricho (Jericho), th fist city we conquered upon our entry into the Land of Israel.

The holiday is also the delineation between the dry and rainy seasons in Israel.  Shabatm which is also celebrated as  the 8th day of Assembly, is when we switch our daily prayers from saying ‘let the dew fall upon the land’ to ‘return the wind and let the rain fall’.

For the prosperity of the land.

Chag Sameach.  (Happy Holiday)

Oh, anď I would be remiss if I didn’t congratulate my Fighting Phils in their 2 game sweep of the Marlins.  Wild Card winners- done.  Now off to annihilate the Braces in the Division Champiosnhip, the next step needed to reclaim our National League Championship.

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