Page 15 - HaMizrachi #33 Sukkot 2021 USA

Hoshanot & Hakafot

Circles and Salvation on Sukkot

Rabbanit Shani Taragin

alking in circles is a we experienced as a nation in the holy as completely enclosed, quarantined
key theme during the land. – “Jericho was shut up because of the
festival of Sukkot. The children of Israel: None went out, and
WMishnah (Sukkah 4:5) A third connection can be based on none came in.” We, unfortunately, can
describes the Second Temple practice of the commentaries of Rabbenu Bachya relate to Covid quarantines that have
and Alei Tamar, who understand the
taking the arava branches and circling story of Jericho as a story of atonement, walled us in and away from others.
the mizbe’ach once every day of Sukkot where the Jews repented while having Sukkot is a time to symbolically break
and seven times on the seventh day judgment fall upon our enemies. Sim- down these walls as we circle the bima.
while reciting Hoshanot. We remember ilarly, we take our arba’a minim and These are circles of prayer for rain and
this practice by circling the bima with circle the bima as a petition to Hashem prosperity, circles of praise for miracles
our arba’a minim every day of Sukkot of salvation in the Land of Israel, circles
and seven times on Hoshanah Rabbah, of atonement, and circles of marriage –
and also through the Simchat Torah breaking down barriers and rebuilding
custom to circle the bima while singing a covenant of commitment with our
(Rema, OC 669:3). What is the signifi- Beloved.
cance of these circuits and why do they These seven circuits also remind Masechet Ta’anit concludes with a
play a central role during Sukkot? us of the seven circles around description of Tu B’Av and Yom Kippur,
Jericho, breaking the walls between the happiest days of the year, when the
Rabbi Acha (Yerushalmi, Sukkah 4) bride and groom, Am Yisrael
states that the circling of the altar on daughters of Israel would circle-dance
Sukkot commemorates the battle of and HaKadosh Baruch Hu. in anticipation of marriage. Ulla of
Jericho, when the Jewish people cir- Bira’a assures us that in the future
Hashem will arrange a circle-dance for
cled the walls of Jericho for seven days to cleanse us of sin and save us from
after which the walls miraculously our adversaries. all the righteous “and He will be sitting
among them in the Garden of Eden, and
collapsed. But what is the connection Rabbi Dosa the Greek cites the custom every one of the righteous will point to
between the circling of the walls of of a groom to circle around his bride. G-d with his finger, as it is stated: ‘And
Jericho and Sukkot? The most common proof text cited for it shall be said on that day: Behold, this
this custom is Yirmiyahu 31:21: “For
Rabbi Eleazar of Worms (Sefer Hashem has created a new thing in is our G-d, for Whom we waited, that
haRokeach, Laws of Sukkot, 221) the earth, A woman shall compass a He might save us. This is Hashem, for
teaches that Sukkot is the time when man.” In the context of the prophet’s Whom we waited. We will be glad and
we pray for rain. Just as at Jericho, allegory, the woman symbolizes the rejoice in His salvation’” (Yeshayahu
where the Jewish people circled the people of Israel, who will initiate the 25:9). Hashem will form a circle with
walls for seven days and seven times reconciliation with her beloved, the equal proximity to the center for all
on the seventh day and the walls came Almighty, by circling. These seven cir- the participants. Once we break down
tumbling down, so too we circle the cuits also remind us of the seven cir- the walls through prayer on Sukkot,
bima for seven days with prayers and cles around Jericho, breaking the walls we anticipate the happiness of Simchat
praises to Hashem for rain, and on the between bride and groom, Am Yisrael Torah which provides a glimpse of the
seventh day, we circle seven times, and HaKadosh Baruch Hu. As there are future circle of solidarity, salvation and
asking Hashem to bring rain. numerous parallels between the sho- ultimate redemption!
Rabbi Yakov Ettlinger (Aruch LaNer, far-blowing ceremony around Jericho
Sukkah 45a) explains that the Jericho and the revelation of Sinai, the seven
miracle was the first miracle our people circuits re-establish our covenant-
experienced when entering the Land al-marriage ceremony every Sukkot! A member of
of Israel. Sukkot is Z’man Simchateinu On Sukkot, we have an opportunity to the Mizrachi
(the time of our joy) when we recite the break down walls – walls that separate Rabbanit Shani Taragin is Educational Speakers Bureau
full Hallel, and so it is an appropriate us from Hashem, our spouses and com- Director of Mizrachi and the Director of the mizrachi.org/
time to commemorate the first miracle munity members. Jericho is described Mizrachi Matan Lapidot Educators’ Program. speakers

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