Day 10
Hoshanah Rabbah - Education over Legislation
In loving memory of David and Hetty Collins zt"l. Dedicated by their grandchildren.
Hoshanah Rabbah is the last day of Succot. Throughout the Jew- ish world we circle round the bimah (the replacement of the mizbeach – Temple altar) in our synagogues, seven times, calling out to God repeatedly: “Hosha na” (Help us, please!). The word na has a numerical value through its Hebrew letters of 51, which parallels the 51 days of repentance from the beginning of the month of Elul (preceding Rosh Hashanah) through to Hoshanah Rabbah, the climax of the process of heavenly judgement – the last chance.
Judgement was made on Rosh Hashanah and sealed on Yom Kippur, but on Hoshanah Rabbah, the Zohar teaches us, judgement is delivered to be carried out. That is why the traditional greeting on this day is “pitkah tovah” (a favourable bill of judgement – for the entire year to come).
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Rabbi Davey Blackman
Rabbi Davey Blackman and his wife Deborah helped to found the Jewish Learning Centre (JLC) in Sydney, Australia. They have served as the senior Rabbi and Rebbetzin team of the JLC since its inception 18 years ago.
