The Great Salvation

Hoshana Raba means the "great salvation".

The status of this day is written in the Midrash in Tehillim:
"On Rosh HaShana all come, including the Jews. The leaders of the world say, 'we won and were granted the judgment'. But not one person knows who won, if Am Israel won or the nations of the world... When Hoshana Rabba arrives, Am Israel takes willows and encircle 7 times, and the Cantor stands like an Angel, with a Sefer Torah in his arm, and Am Israel encircle him -- The ministering angeles are happy and say, "Am Israel won, Am Israel won. The eternity of Am Israel will never lie."

Rabbenu Bechaye ben Asher, zs'l, writes in his sefer Kad HaKemach,
"The encircling of 7 times is to commomerate the time when Am Israel encircled Yericho (Jerico) seven times on the seventh day. This is when the Judgment began on Yericho and its walls crumbled. The judgement fell onto the enemy and did not have permission to go against Am Israel. Therefore, in the future, when the Divine Spirit will return to Holy House (Bet HaMikdash), Judgement will begin on the enemies of Am Israel, those that made them suffer and enslaved them."

The clues for the Judgment actually begins in the month of Av (August), its astrology sign is the lion ARYeH
א A - Elul
ר R - Rosh HaShana
י Y - Yom Kippur
ה H - HoShana Rabba
ארי"ה - אלול, ר"ה, יוה"כ, הושענה רבה

On Hoshana Raba, Divine Judgement is excuted, as it says; "...On the 7th day of the Succot Holiday; i.e: Hoshana Raba, the judgement of the nations of the world is finalized. Sentences are issued from the residence of the King. Judgements are aroused and executed on that day." (Zohar Vayikra 31b).

Towards the end of HoShana Raba, we pray, "Kol mevasser, mevasser ve-omer" (A voice brings news, brings news and says)—expressing hope for the speedy coming of Moshiach Tzidkenu.

History of HaShem's Judgment on the nations of the world on HaShana Raba:

The Great Depression
Thursday, October 24, 1929, the day before Hoshana Raba, is recorded in the history books as the start of the Great Depression.

World War II
With the Stalin-Hitler pact on the division of Poland, no one expected Lomza to be transferred into Russian hands, since it was so close to the East Prussian border. Yet on Hoshana Rabbah, the Soviet tanks rolled into town. In the heavy bombardment, three quarters of the city was destroyed, but the impressive buildings housing the Yeshiva and the Talmud Torah were unharmed. The Rosh Yeshiva's house was also undamaged...

Nuremberg Trial, 1946.
"...There were supposed to be 11, but in the end Goring comitted suicide. The trial ended but the sentencing was postponed numerous times by appeals for amnesty. Finally after the Jewish New Year came and went, the sentence was pronounced: death by hanging. In the end there were only 10. On October 16, 1946, on Hoshana Raba, they were executed."

Gog uMagog
US and British forces began an aerial bombing campaign targeting Taliban forces and Al-Qaida in Afghanistan on the night of Hoshana Raba, October 9, 2001.

Chazak U Baruch (Americans say Hat Tip...) to Reb Ariel