Hoshana Rabbah! More on the feast of Sukkot!

Hoshna = God saves!
Rabbah = Big!

When Daddy comes to our rescue, He does it in a BIG way!!

I knew an important feast day was around the corner when the Synagogue near Ian's office started building this palm tree made structure with white cloth. Then, today Pastor Prince explained to us that the Jewish are indeed celebrating a wonderful Feast right now!

Hoshana Rabbah is the festival where Jews celebrate the Feast of the Tabernacles. Monday the 21st of October happens to be the 21st of the 7th month of the Jewish Calendar, which is the most important day of the Feast, also called the Feast of Booths OR Sukkot.

Each Hoshanot (each day is one Hoshanot) is done in honour of a King, and the 7th Hoshana of is done in honour of King David - the most important King in the Old Testament. It is important to note that Jesus Christ comes from the line of King David =)

The hoshanot are accompanied by a series of liturgical verses climaxing with, "Kol mevasser, mevasser ve-omer" (The voice of the Herald, Elijah, heralds and says)—expressing hope for the speedy coming of the Messiah.

I did some reading up and found out from wikipedia the significance of that palm leave made hut we saw outside the Jacob Ballas Centre, the Synagogue near Ian's office around Waterloo Street. We were wondering what it was and now we know... =D

Apparently the word Sukkot is the plural of the Hebrew word sukkah, meaning booth or hut.

During this holiday, Jews are instructed to build a temporary structure called a sukkah, in which they eat their meals, entertain guests, relax, and even sleep. Tables, chairs, and beds or mattresses are moved from the house into the sukkah, which may also be fitted with electric fans, lighting, heaters, book shelves or bookcases, and shtenders (lecterns) for the comfort of the users by day and by night. The decor of the interior of the sukkah may range from totally unornamented to lavishly decorated with pictures, tapestries, hanging fruits and ornaments.

Families may also line the interior walls with white sheeting, in order to recall the "Clouds of Glory" that surrounded the Jewish nation during their 40-year sojourn in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. The sukkah itself is a reminder of these Clouds of Glory, as well as of God's benevolence in providing for all the Jews' needs in the desert.

According to halakha, the walls of the sukkah can be made from any material, including wood, canvas, plaster, or regular walls of glass or aluminium. The roof of a sukkah, however, must be of organic material that is detached from the ground. Palm fronds, branches, bamboo and wood are the most common roofing materials. The amount of shade inside the sukkah must exceed the amount of sunlight that can enter through the roof.

Another significant thing I found out through my reading about Hoshanah Rabbah is this -

On this day the people of Israel do not rely upon their righteousness or the merit that they have earned through the year life - for themselves and for all of humanity - through the merit of their prayer alone. They address God and say:

"Master of the Universe, we come before You poor and empty­handed. We lack Torah learning, mitzvot, good deeds, and the merit o f our fathers. We have only our mouths with which we pray to You alone. Answer us in the merit of this prayer which we offer with broken and contrite hearts."

No wonder Jesus chose to cry out on the day of Hoshanah Rabbah -

John 7:37 - 39

On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as^[c] the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

It is interesting how on the day the people of Israel choose not to depend on their righteousness, the King of Heaven Himself chooses to reveal to them that anyone who believes in Him will be filled with the Holy Spirit (upon His suffering and death for all mankind on the Cross) =)

At the conclusion of the Hoshanot, on each day as well as on Hoshana Rabbah, the chazan and congregation responsively recite the following refrain: Ani va-ho hoshiah na OR Ana Hashem hoshiah na. The first means "God share Israel's troubles, therefore bring us salvation" and the latter means "Please God, bring us salvation".

In this day and age where the nations are once again rising against Israel, this prayer cannot be more apt.

The same Elohim which lifted Israel from her cares during the 6 day war - which they won due to nothing short of a miracle - will no doubt once more keep Israel in the shadow of His Wings.

Marantha! Praise Jesus! Who is there like You LORD, clothed in strength and beauty? Marvellous and wonderful in deeds! =D