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To commemorate the mitzvah of aravot from the Beit HaMikdash era, we circle the bima with lulavim daily during Sukkot, reciting hoshanotprayers. On Hoshanah Rabbah, we circle seven times. Let%u2019s explore the meaning of these hoshanot prayers:First paragraph: This paragraph contains various names for G-d and His manifestations in the world, and in it we ask that G-d save us for His sake: %u201cSave me, please, for Your sake%u2026%u201dSecond paragraph: This paragraph includes different names for Jerusalem and the Temple, and the request is for G-d to save Jerusalem and the Temple: %u201cFoundation stone, chosen house%u2026 holy of holies%u2026 please save!%u201dThird paragraph: Various names appear for the people of Israel, and the request is for the salvation of the people of Israel: %u201cThe nation%u2026 holy sheep, congregations of Jacob, marked with Your name %u2013 roars, %u2018Please save!%u2019%u201dFourth paragraph: This paragraph refers to G-d with different names, asking Him to save us: %u201cThe Master who brings salvation %u2013 without You there is no salvation, mighty One and great in saving%u2026 Bring salvation to Your blameless ones.%u201dFifth paragraph: A request for salvation for all creatures of the world: %u201cMan and beast%u2026 establishing flowers, raining on vegetation%u2026%u201dSixth paragraph: A request for salvation and the prevention of disasters and troubles: %u201cThe ground from malediction, beasts from miscarriage, the threshing floor from locusts%u2026 harvest from curse, plentitude from gauntness, stalks from parchedness %u2013 please save!%u201dSeventh paragraph: A request for salvation in the merit of the fathers of the nation: %u201cFor the sake of the great one thrown into the heart of the fire, for the sake of the son bound upon woods and fire%u2026%u201dThe sentence repeated every day at the beginning of the hoshanah is: %u201cPlease save! For Your sake, our G-d, please save; For Your sake, our Creator, please save%u2026%u201dThe request for salvation for the sake of G-d%u2019s name and not for our own sake and our own good is also repeated in the prayer of Avinu Malkeinu %u2013 at the beginning and at the end: %u201cOur Father, our King, do it for Your name%u2019s sake. Our Father, our King, do it for Your sake if not for ours%u2026%u201dWhat is the meaning of asking G-d for His sake, for His name%u2019s sake, for His mercy? This idea comes from the words of the prophets. In several prophecies, it is said that G-d will save the children of Israel, not because they deserve it, and not for their sake, but for His sake or for His name%u2019s sake: %u201cAnd I will defend this city to save it for My sake and for the sake of David My servant%u201d (Melachim II 19:34). %u201cI, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins%u201d (Yeshayahu 43:25). Sometimes Am Yisrael also asks G-d to forgive them and save them %u201cfor His name%u2019s sake%u201d even though they are unworthy, such as: %u201cFor Your name%u2019s sake, O L-rd, pardon my iniquity, for it is great%u201d (Tehillim 25:11).These paragraphs express the gap between us and G-d. G-d is good and full of grace, which sometimes we don%u2019t deserve. And yet we ask: %u201cOur Father, our King, have mercy and answer us, for we have no worthy deeds; treat us with charity and kindness and save us.%u201d The understanding that we are not worthy, and that G-d is good to us in spite of this, directs us to correct ourselves before G-d: not to believe that we %u201cdeserve%u201d but to understand that G-d is very gracious because this is His essence, even when %u201cwe have no worthy deeds.%u201d This is humility before G-d%u2019s greatness, an attitude that doesn%u2019t take the good for granted, but recognizes the grace of G-d, the need to be thankful, and to try to be worthy of His blessing.When human depravity is great and causes G-d%u2019s grace to be withheld, we ask G-d to act for His name%u2019s sake. Yechezkel describes how harming the people of Israel causes blasphemy, and therefore G-d sometimes saves Israel %u201cfor His name%u2019s sake%u201d %u2013 to prevent blasphemy in the eyes of the gentiles, even though they are not worthy of salvation.These have another significant dimension %u2013 that all our prayers should be for the sake of Heaven, not for our own. Just as Chana prayed to have a child not for herself but to dedicate him to G-d%u2019s service, so should we direct our prayers to Heaven: so that we can do good, worship G-d and increase G-d%u2019s glory in the world.G-d, the source of all goodness, seeks to benefit His creation. By praying %u201caseh l%u2019ma%u2019ancha%u201d or %u201choshe%u2019a na l%u2019maancha%u201d, we invite a partnership with G-d. This collaboration aims to bring more Divine goodness into the world, connecting humanity with G-d%u2019s blessings and fulfilling His desire to benefit all creation.Rabbanit Sharon Rimonis a Tanach teacher and author.Save Me Please,for Your SakeRabbanit Sharon Rimon | 35