HoshaNA Raba
The Ben Ish Chai, zs'l, says: A person should increase in prayers and mercy on HoShana Raba because the end of 51 days is on that day. These 51 days were given to Am Israel as Chesed, the gates of Teshuva are open to do Teshuva. A hint is in the word "נא", please. In gematria it is 51 and that is the reason it is called HoSha na "הושע נא". On this day, the judgment is sealed for the year.[+/-] show/hide text
The Mazishov Admor האדמו"ר מזצ'ישוב zs'l explains that when Moshe Rabbenu zs'l asked HaShem (Parshat Shemot) "שלח נא ביד תשלח" "Please send by the hand that You will send". (send someone else to Paroah). The word נא (please) in Gematria is 51. The Admor said 200 hundred years ago, that this is a clear indication that Gog Umagog will begin Hoshana Raba, 51 days after Rosh Chodesh Elul.
The gematria of Va'eschanan (I implore) is 515. There are 516 hours between the start of Rosh Hashana and the end of Hoshana Raba - which is the last chance to change a decree which was made on Yom Kippur. In the last year of his life, between Rosh Hashana and Shmini Atzeres, Moshe prayed every hour - 515 times - that Hashem should forgive him and let him cross over the Jordan. Finally Hashem told him not to continue praying. From this we can learn the enormous power of prayer: Hashem told Moshe to stop praying to Him - implying that if Moshe had continued to pray, if he would have prayed the 516th prayer, Hashem would have acceded to his petition.
HaRav Ezra Sheinberg Shlita said that the war will break out Hoshana Raba. He said that Mekubalim know this reality but it's not clear. We must pray that the decree will turn sweet and all will turn only for good.
The Zohar (Tzav 31b) describes Hoshana Rabbah as a judgment day akin to Yom HaKippurim, for on Hoshana Rabbah the parchments containing the Yom HaKippurim decrees are made final. The Mystics state that whereas our fate is sealed on Yom HaKippurim, the writ containing the decision of the Court on High is only rubber-stamped on the 7th day of Succoth which is Hoshana Rabbah, the day on which we make seven circuits around the bimah with the lulav assembly. Hence, until this day, a last-minute appeal to the Supreme Court may carry some weight by virtue of extenuating circumstances. Hoshana Rabbah assumes special importance as a day of prayer and repentance.
On Rosh Hashanah all people were judged. The righteous were given a favorable judgment, those found wanting, but not totally evil, were given until Yom HaKippurim to repent. If they failed to do so, the verdict against them was written and sealed, but not yet ‘delivered’. That was not done until Hoshana Rabbah, a day when Jews assemble in prayer, dedication, and supplication. The joy of Succoth reaches its climax not in revelry but in devotion. In mercy, God finds ample reason to tear up the parchments bearing harsher sentences, as it were, and replace them with brighter tidings.
On Succoth the world is judged for rain. In fact, we begin praying for rain the day after Hoshana Rabbah, on Shimini Atzeret. (Rosh HaShanah 10b-11b) R. Joshua zs'l says: Rain in Eretz Israel prior to Shimini Atzeret is a sign of HaShem’s anger.
May HaShem judged, seal, and deliver all Am Israel with mercy and in favor, Amen. As it says in Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 31:7-14
This is what HaShem says: "Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations. Make your praises heard, and say, 'O HaShem, save your people, the remnant of Israel.' See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth. Among them will be the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return. They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel's father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.
"Hear the word of HaShem, O nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: 'He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.' For HaShem will ransom Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they. They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of HaShem--the grain, the new wine and the oil, the young of the flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more. Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my bounty," declares HaShem.
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The Mazishov Admor האדמו"ר מזצ'ישוב zs'l explains that when Moshe Rabbenu zs'l asked HaShem (Parshat Shemot) "שלח נא ביד תשלח" "Please send by the hand that You will send". (send someone else to Paroah). The word נא (please) in Gematria is 51. The Admor said 200 hundred years ago, that this is a clear indication that Gog Umagog will begin Hoshana Raba, 51 days after Rosh Chodesh Elul.
The gematria of Va'eschanan (I implore) is 515. There are 516 hours between the start of Rosh Hashana and the end of Hoshana Raba - which is the last chance to change a decree which was made on Yom Kippur. In the last year of his life, between Rosh Hashana and Shmini Atzeres, Moshe prayed every hour - 515 times - that Hashem should forgive him and let him cross over the Jordan. Finally Hashem told him not to continue praying. From this we can learn the enormous power of prayer: Hashem told Moshe to stop praying to Him - implying that if Moshe had continued to pray, if he would have prayed the 516th prayer, Hashem would have acceded to his petition.
HaRav Ezra Sheinberg Shlita said that the war will break out Hoshana Raba. He said that Mekubalim know this reality but it's not clear. We must pray that the decree will turn sweet and all will turn only for good.
The Zohar (Tzav 31b) describes Hoshana Rabbah as a judgment day akin to Yom HaKippurim, for on Hoshana Rabbah the parchments containing the Yom HaKippurim decrees are made final. The Mystics state that whereas our fate is sealed on Yom HaKippurim, the writ containing the decision of the Court on High is only rubber-stamped on the 7th day of Succoth which is Hoshana Rabbah, the day on which we make seven circuits around the bimah with the lulav assembly. Hence, until this day, a last-minute appeal to the Supreme Court may carry some weight by virtue of extenuating circumstances. Hoshana Rabbah assumes special importance as a day of prayer and repentance.
On Rosh Hashanah all people were judged. The righteous were given a favorable judgment, those found wanting, but not totally evil, were given until Yom HaKippurim to repent. If they failed to do so, the verdict against them was written and sealed, but not yet ‘delivered’. That was not done until Hoshana Rabbah, a day when Jews assemble in prayer, dedication, and supplication. The joy of Succoth reaches its climax not in revelry but in devotion. In mercy, God finds ample reason to tear up the parchments bearing harsher sentences, as it were, and replace them with brighter tidings.
On Succoth the world is judged for rain. In fact, we begin praying for rain the day after Hoshana Rabbah, on Shimini Atzeret. (Rosh HaShanah 10b-11b) R. Joshua zs'l says: Rain in Eretz Israel prior to Shimini Atzeret is a sign of HaShem’s anger.
May HaShem judged, seal, and deliver all Am Israel with mercy and in favor, Amen. As it says in Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 31:7-14
This is what HaShem says: "Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations. Make your praises heard, and say, 'O HaShem, save your people, the remnant of Israel.' See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth. Among them will be the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return. They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel's father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.
"Hear the word of HaShem, O nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: 'He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.' For HaShem will ransom Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they. They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of HaShem--the grain, the new wine and the oil, the young of the flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more. Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my bounty," declares HaShem.
Labels: Teshuva
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