Hoshana Raba

 

    Every year, when Hoshana Raba rolls around, millions of questions scream in my head. Why is Hoshana Raba so important? Why do we say extra hoshanot while we wave around the aravot? What’s the symbolism of the aravot? What should they mean to me? The list goes on and on.

    To understand the arava, we need to examine the lulav itself and its symbolism. The Midrash explains that each of the four species (lulav, etrog, hadas, arava) is representative of the different strengths a Jew can possess. The etrog, strong in both taste and smell, represents a Jew who is strong in both his learning and his actions. The lulav, which tastes delicious but is odorless, represents one who is extremely learned, but not so outstanding when it comes to good deeds. The hadas, which is strong in smell but inedible, represents an individual who excels in chesed (good deeds), but is not so learned. Finally, the arava, which is neither edible nor fragrant, represents the ordinary Jew, who isn’t so strong in learning or actions. Each of these could stand on its own, however when we hold all four species together during Sukkot, we are creating achdut within our nation.  

    The Sfat Emet depends the understanding by bringing in the Midrash, which explains that along with the four types of individuals, the four species also represent different organs in the body. The etrog resembles the heart, the lulav the spine, the hadasim the eyes, and the aravot the lips.

Hashem loves each of us and every part of us. He shows us this every Sukkot when He commands us to take all four species together.

    But what about the Jews who feel disconnected? The individuals who struggle with learning and good deeds, the arava Jew?

    Hoshana Raba comes to remind us about the individual who struggles to find that connection. Everyone takes his or her aravot with them to pray to Hashem, reminding us that we are all there to support one another and to raise ourselves to the highest possible level. The shape of the arava, the lips, remind us of the power of our words bein adam l’chavero and how important tefila is bein adam l’makom.

    In today’s world, in a sense, we are all “arava Jews”, only learning when our teachers tell us, only doing good deeds when our friends can “like” them on Facebook.

Hoshana Raba, gives us the chance to look at the arava in our hands, sensitizing us to our spiritual needs and increasing the amount of Torah learning and good deeds we can do to get closer to Hashem. It’s an opportunity to ask Hashem for a connection and to ask Him to guide us through life. This is the message of the arava, that all Jews should try to reconnect to Hashem using all parts of their body.

 

Written by Liat Fischer