Chapter 138 : Chapter 138 Laws of Hoshana Rabbah, Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah

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§1

The fifth (in Eretz Yisrael, the sixth) day of Chol Hamoed is Hoshana Rabbah. It is customary to stay awake the preceding night and to study Torah, according to the order printed [in the Tikkun], because on Sukkos we are judged with regard to water, upon which human life depends, and this day is the last day of Sukkos, and all depends upon the conclusion [of judgment.] At Shacharis additional candles are lit in the synagogue, as on Yom Kippur, and the Chazzan wears a kittel. Lamenatzei'ach [for the choirmaster] is said as on Yom Tov, and Mizmor lesodah [a psalm of thanksgiving] is also said, but Nishmas [the soul] is not said. We say Ein kamocha [There is none like you], and Shema Yisrael, as on Yom Tov. In the Kedusha of Musaf we say Na'aritzecha [We will revere].

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§2

The prophets instituted the custom, that each person should take a special aravah, on that day besides the aravah in the lulav bundle. Whatever disqualifies the aravah of the lulav [bundle] also disqualifies this aravah. Therefore, a Jew should not cut it himself for his own use. (as I have written in ch. 136:7 above); the only difference [of the special aravah] is that even if most of the leaves fell off, it is valid. Even if there is only one leaf left on one branch, it is valid. However, the beauty of the mitzvah is enhanced when the aravah has many leaves and a long branch. It is a beautiful custom to take five branches [for the special aravah] and tie them together with a leaf of a lulav.

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§3

You should not take this aravah together with the lulav, but when you begin to say Ta'aneh emunim [Answer the faithful]¹This is according to Sheloh, but according to Ari Zal, this is done after the final, whole Kaddish. you put down the lulav and the esrog and take the aravah, for then we pray for water. At the conclusion of the Hoshanos, you wave the aravah and beat it on the ground five times, and it is sufficient, even if no leaves fall off in the process. After beating the aravah, you should not throw it on the floor, because it shows contempt of the mitzvah. It is best to put save it and cast it into the fire of [the oven] when you bake matzos (for Pesach), since it was used for one mitzvah it should be used for another mitzvah.

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§4

On the night of Shemini Atzeres you should wait [and be sure] not to say the Kiddush before nightfall. In the Kiddush you should say Shehecheyanu, because it is a Yom Tov in itself. You should not say Leisheiv basukkah, because in the Shemoneh Esrei and in the Kiddush, we say Yom hashemini chag ha'atzeres hazeh [the Eighth Day, this Festival of Assembly], and if you said Leisheiv basukkah, you would be contradicting yourself.

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§5

The night of Shemini Atzeres and the whole day, you should eat in the sukkah, but you should not say the berachah [Leisheiv basukkah], as we have mentioned. When you take final leave of the sukkah you should say Yehi ratzon, [May it be favorable] etc. Regarding sleeping in the sukkah, some authorities take a lenient view, and this is the accepted custom; but it is proper to follow the stricter view.

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§6

On the eighth day near dark, you may remove the vessels from the sukkah into the house; but you should not arrange them in proper order while it is still day,²However, if they will cause the house to look unkempt, it is permitted to put them away neatly. (Mishnah Berurah 667:6) for that is considered preparing on one Yom Tov for another.

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§7

The last day of Yom Tov, which is also Shemini Atzeres, is called Simchas Torah, because on this day we conclude [the reading of] the Torah, and we rejoice with it. In the evening, after Maariv, we make [seven] Hakafos [circuits] carrying the Sifrei Torah around the bimah, after which the Sifrei Torah are replaced in the Ark. We leave one Seifer Torah from which we read for three people³In some communities five people are called to read from the Torah. from the portion Vezos haberachah [This is the blessing], (Deuteronomy 33). In some communities it is customary to read the portions dealing with vows. After the reading of the Torah, the half-kaddish is said, the Seifer Torah is replaced in the Ark, and Aleinu is said.

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§8

On the day of Simchas Torah it is the custom in many communities that the Kohanim bless the people in the Shacharis service and not in Musaf, since during Musaf the Kohanim may be intoxicated. We do not say Vesei'areiv [May our entreaties be pleasing] when the Kohanim bless the people at Shacharis prayers.

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§9

In the daytime, after the Hakafos, three Sifrei Torah are left out, and many people are called up to one Seifer Torah, to read the portion Vezos haberachah up to Me'onah (Deut. 33:27) repeating it many times. At the end, all the young boys are called up. It is proper that a boy who is bar mitzvah should say the berachah and that the others should listen.⁴They will be exempt with his berachah. The verse Hamalach hagoel is read for them⁵According to Levush this verse is recited over them as an oral blessing, but it is not read. (Ibid 669:14) [The angel who delivered me] etc. (Genesis 48:16). After that, the Chasan Torah is called up and he reads from Me'onah to the end [of the Torah]. In the second Seifer Torah, the Chasan Bereishis reads. Then half-kaddish is said. In the third Seifer Torah, Maftir is read. (see chapter 79:1 above) It is the custom in many communities to be mindful to call up an eminent person for Chasan Torah. Even a person who was called up already for the reading of Vezos haberachah, may still be called up as Chasan Torah or as Chasan Bereishis. Where there are only two Sifrei Torah, Vezos haberachah should be read in one, and Bereishis in the other one, and the first seifer is taken again for Maftir.

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§10

It is customary for the Chasan Torah and the Chasan Bereishis to make donations to charity,⁶It is a proper custom for all who are called to the Torah, to contribute for the support of the Beis Hamedrash and for the support of those who study the Torah. (Ibid 669:7) and to invite all their friends to a joyous meal in honor of the completion of the Torah and its beginning. As it is written in the Midrash, (At the beginning of Koheles [Ecclesiastes], "He came to Jerusalem and he stood in front of the Ark of the Covenant of Hashem" etc. "… and he made a banquet for all his servants." Rabbi Yitzchak said, "From this we can infer, that you should make a festive meal upon the completion of the Torah."