Prayers for Hoshana Rabbah
According to the Zohar HaKadosh, Hoshana Rabbah is the holiest and most critical night of the year. On this day, the final seal is set—the culmination of all the autumn holidays, from Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur to Shemini Atzeret.
In earlier times, those who understood the significance of this day would go outside and examine their shadow by the light of the moon in order to foresee whether they would have a good or difficult year. Today, we focus on the prayers given to us by our mekubalim.
1. Sefer Devarim on Hoshana RabbahIt is very important to read the entire Sefer Devarim before Et Ratzon—the time of Divine favor, when prayers are accepted without impediment or intermediaries. Sefer Devarim is read until chatzot on Leil Hoshana Rabbah.
Hoshana Rabbah is the 51st day from Rosh Chodesh Elul, the beginning of Selichot according to the Sephardic minhag. These 51 days were given to Am Yisrael as an act of chesed, a gateway to teshuvah—a hint contained in the word «נא» — (please).
«נא» has the gematria of 51, and for this reason this day is called «הושע נא» — (Hosha na).
On this day, the final seal is set.
Between the beginning of Rosh Hashanah and the end of Hoshana Rabbah there are exactly 516 hours. We know that Moshe Rabbeinu prayed 515 prayers before Hashem stopped him. Had Moshe recited the 516th prayer, Hashem would have forgiven him and would have been compelled to bring him into the Land of Israel.
Moshe Rabbeinu began writing Sefer Devarim 36 days before his death; King Yoshiyahu found it 40 years before the destruction of the Temple.
Before his death, Moshe Rabbeinu wrote the 955 pesukim of Sefer Devarim in 70 languages. He taught us that there are 955 gates leading to the Heavenly Throne. There are also 955 keys to open them. 900 of the 955 keys belong to the Archangel Metatron. This angel can raise our prayers only as far as the 900th gate.
The remaining 55 are under Hashem’s authority. When a person prays to the Creator, there are many barriers that prevent his prayers from reaching the Creator and passing through the 900th gate.
Sefer Devarim consists of 955 verses, corresponding to the 955 Gates of Prayer. Each verse opens one door. By the time a Jew has read the entire Sefer Devarim, especially the final 55 verses, he is already standing before the King of kings, and at that moment the Almighty blesses him with everything he needs, spiritually and physically.
Moshe Rabbeinu knew that every Jew has a “nitzotz”—a spark—in Sefer Devarim. That is why it is so important on Leil Hoshana Rabbah—the decisive night of judgment, when it is still possible to influence the final verdict—to read Sefer Devarim, which contains the soul of every Jew, and thereby contribute to the rectification of the world.
Details here:
Sefer Devarim on the Night of Hoshana Rabbah
2. Tehillim-Selichot according to the Ben Ish ChaiAfter chatzot, when Layla begins, Sefer Tehillim is recited. Ben Ish Chai teaches that on Leil Hoshana Rabbah there is a special segula to recite Tehillim in an unusual manner. Sefer Tehillim contains 150 psalms, and 150 is the gematria of the word פידונ — “pidyon” — (redemption). On this night, we read Sefer Tehillim divided according to the five books of the Torah:
Book I: Chapters 1–42;
Book II: Chapters 43–72;
Book III: Chapters 73–89;
Book IV: Chapters 90–106;
Book V: Chapters 107–150;
On the night of Hoshana Rabbah, there is a minhag to recite Selichot (prayers of repentance) after each book of Psalms. (If you are reading in a synagogue and there is a minyan, the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy may also be recited aloud.)
The prayer recited after each book is available here:
Tehillim-Selichot on the Night of Hoshana Rabbah According to the Ben Ish Chai
3. Sefer Tehillim—three timesThe highest level of reciting Tehillim on Hoshana Rabbah is to read Sefer Tehillim three times. You can recite Tehillim-Selichot according to the Ben Ish Chai once before chatzot layla, and then twice the following day, in the morning and afternoon.
4. “Nishmat Kol Chai” on Hoshana Rabbah as a segula for preserving lifeBen Ish Chai (zechuto yagen aleinu) recommended a segula that can help preserve one’s life throughout the year.
For this purpose, one should say the following on the morning of Hoshana Rabbah:
“Ribono Shel Olam, today on Hoshana Rabbah I hereby undertake to recite the prayer ‘Nishmat Kol Chai’; moreover, in the coming year—5787—on Hoshana Rabbah, I undertake to pray ‘Nishmat Kol Chai.’
“By undertaking such a commitment,” teaches the Ben Ish Chai, “you thereby guarantee the preservation of your life throughout the coming year, for the Almighty will have to help a person who has promised to fulfill a mitzvah—to recite the prayer in the coming year.”
“Nishmat Kol Chai” on Hoshana Rabbah According to the Ben Ish Hai
On this day, people wish all Jews: “Pitka Tova”—a favorable verdict! To all of Am Yisrael, “Pitka Tova”!!!
