Hoshana Rabbah in Tehillim and How to Mitigate Judgments
Tehillim 73:1 - “Ach tov le-Yisrael” - (only goodness for Israel).The word אך “ach” (only) has a gematria of 21, indicating that the Name of the Almighty, אהי׳׳ה—“alef,” “hei,” “yud,” “hei”—whose gematria is 21, the source of Strict Judgment and one of the seven unpronounceable Names of the Almighty, has been transformed into manifest and tangible goodness.
Hoshana Rabbah is not a festival day, but it possesses tremendous significance—it falls on the 21st day from Rosh Hashanah, the 21st of Tishrei. This Name is associated with the sefirah of Binah, from which Strict Judgment flows. The influence of this Name began on the first day of Rosh Hashanah.
As it is written in the books of Kabbalah, this is the day of “heavy (Strict) Judgment” (the second day of the festival is “mild Judgment,” less severe).
Yom Kippur is also associated with the sefirah of Binah and its higher source. Therefore, the spiritual work of these days is directed toward mitigating this Strict Judgment—in the language of Kabbalah, “sweetening the Judgment.”
For example, the sounds of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah, especially the shevarim (from the word “to break”), “break” the severity of Judgment on that day and mitigate it. And since the Name אהי׳׳ה—the Name of the sefirah of Binah, the source of Strict Judgment—has a gematria of 21, its influence extends for 21 days, until the 21st of Tishrei, Hoshana Rabbah.
Therefore, דווקא on this day, as the influence of this Name comes to an end, one can, by making an effort, influence the Judgment of the Creator and change the verdict for the better.
Prayers on Hoshana Rabbah 1. Sefer Devarim The entire Book of Devarim is read, because this section of the Torah was written personally by Moshe; that is, it is the Creator’s wisdom as it is clothed in the wisdom of creation (Moshe). This is a revelation of the Supernal Light below, which is necessary for mitigating Judgment. 2. Sefer Tehillim Tehillim is recited, because the prayers of King David are a plea for the manifestation (revelation) of the Creator’s compassion below, in our world. This also mitigates the verdict of Judgment. This is why willow branches are needed—the striking of the willow branches against the ground represents an act that resembles severity and judgment (striking...). And there are specifically five of them, corresponding to the five gevurot, the five manifestations of Binah’s “severity,” which must be mitigated. On Hoshana Rabbah, the 21st day, we are given a chance, through all these actions and sincere prayer, to transform the verdict—whatever it may have been at first—into goodness. Our Sages teach in the Midrash Mateh Moshe: “The Almighty said to Abraham: ‘You are one, and I am One in the world—so I will give your children a special day on which to atone for their sins. If I am unable to forgive them on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur lies ahead. If Yom Kippur does not help, Hoshana Rabbah still remains.’ Why did Hashem promise this to Abraham? Because just as Abraham’s light shone after 20 generations of sinners, the salvation of his children, even if it does not come immediately, will nevertheless not be delayed for more than 21 days from the beginning of the Judgment—and that day is Hoshana Rabbah. On this day, people wish one another: “Pitka Tava”—a favorable verdict! (Rabbi Schneur Zalman Gafni—based on the explanations of Rebbe Levi Yitzchak, father of the 7th Lubavitcher Rebbe)
