Why We Whack Willows on Hoshana Rabbah
On the 7th day of Sukkot, called Hoshanah Rabba, we take five willows and strike the ground to sweeten the judgment. This class digs deep into Torah tradition to uncover the origins, meanings, and relevance to the ancient Holy Temple plant parade that lead to modern synagogue willow whacking!
Rabbi Mendel Kaplan is the Spiritual Leader and Executive Director of Chabad Flamingo in Thornhill, Ontario, serving one of Canada’s most dynamic Jewish communities. He also serves as Chaplain of the York Regional Police Service. He is an active member of Toronto’s Vaad HaRabbanim (Council of Orthodox Rabbis), and a voting member of the COR Kashruth Council of Canada’s executive rabbinical board. Rabbi Kaplan is featured regularly on many local television and radio shows. He is a sought after speaker, with hundreds of lectures on Chabad.org. He and his wife, Faygie, are blessed with eight children. Artistically endowed, the rabbi enjoys drawing, sketching and creating charcoal portraits.
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Rabbi, you said the earliest reference to the 7th day of Sukkot is in the Mishnah. However, Chaggai (Haggai) - Chapter 2 verse 1 says "In the seventh [month], on the twenty-first of the month, the word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet" Wouldn't the 21st of the 7th month be the 7th day of Sukkot? Wasn't Haggai written before the Mishnah?