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Beating the Aravot: Difference between revisions
From Halachipedia
→Reasons for the Custom
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# The minumum length for an [[aravah]] branch for beating is 3 [[tefachim]], like it is for the [[aravah]] for the mitzva with [[lulav]]. <ref> Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] pg. 443 </ref> | # The minumum length for an [[aravah]] branch for beating is 3 [[tefachim]], like it is for the [[aravah]] for the mitzva with [[lulav]]. <ref> Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] pg. 443 </ref> | ||
==Reasons for the Custom== | ==Reasons for the Custom== | ||
#Some view the beating of the Aravah as a | #Some view the beating of the Aravah as a ritual of atonement, and interpret Hoshana Rabba as a day of final judgment and forgiveness. Beating the branches symbolizes, and mystically brings about, a sweetening of the Divine attribute of justice<ref>Zohar Parshat Tzav (end of 31b)</ref> | ||
#Others have suggested that beating the Aravah | #Others have suggested that beating the Aravah is a prayer for rain, as the sound of beating Aravot evokes the sounds and sights of a rainstorm<ref>e.g. Rabbi Dr. Louis Jacobs, in The Jewish Religion: A Companion</ref> | ||
# Finally, a recent view proves that the beating of the Aravah is a re-enactment of a prophecy delivered and acted out by the prophet Chagai on the 21st of Tishrei (i.e. on Hoshana Rabba) in which Chagai encouraged Jews that God would ultimately overturn the nations of the world and redeem Israel and the Temple.<ref>See Chagai 2:1-9 and see article by Steven Weiner entitled "What Did the Willows Ever Do to Deserve Such a Beating? An Original Explanation for a Perplexing Custom" found here: http://seforim.blogspot.com/2015/09/what-did-willows-ever-do-to-deserve.html</ref> | # Finally, a recent view proves that the beating of the Aravah is a re-enactment of a prophecy delivered and acted out by the prophet Chagai on the 21st of Tishrei (i.e. on Hoshana Rabba) in which Chagai encouraged Jews that God would ultimately overturn the nations of the world and redeem Israel and the Temple.<ref>See Chagai 2:1-9 and see article by Steven Weiner entitled "What Did the Willows Ever Do to Deserve Such a Beating? An Original Explanation for a Perplexing Custom" found here: http://seforim.blogspot.com/2015/09/what-did-willows-ever-do-to-deserve.html</ref> | ||
