At the Central “Golden Rose” Synagogue, on the seventh day of the holiday of Sukkot, which is called Hoshana Rabbah, special prayers and a festive meal in the sukkah took place. This day holds special significance in Jewish tradition and is considered the last of the “Days of Awe” – a time when the verdict rendered on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is finally sealed.
One of the main features of Hoshana Rabbah is the seven circuits around the bimah with the recitation of the “Hoshanos” prayers – pleas for salvation and mercy from the Almighty. On this day, chibut aravot is also performed – a custom connected with willow branches. In memory of the Temple tradition, a bundle of aravah is taken and struck against the ground.
Tradition links Hoshana Rabbah to the final sealing of the heavenly verdict. Therefore, this day is considered a special time for prayer, teshuvah, and requests for blessing for the coming year.
At the Central “Golden Rose” Synagogue, this day passed in an atmosphere of prayer, as congregants gathered together to spend the last day of Sukkot in the community. Such festive days become an opportunity to be close to one another, to preserve traditions, and to feel that special bond that unites the members of the Jewish Community of Dnipro under the leadership of the Chief Rabbi of Dnipro and the region, Shmuel Kaminezki.
