Hoshanah Rabbah

2011 / 5772 Hoshanah Rabbah Celebration

Wednesday, October 19, 5:00 pm

Meet Rabbi Randy and Maggie Duwe at 5:00 pm at CRC to carpool to the Edward "Ted" and Pat Jones Confluence Point State Park in West Alton, MO. The drive each way takes about an hour.

The seventh and final day of Sukkot is known as Hoshanah Rabbah - the Great "Save Us." In addition to waving the lulav and etrog in the seven directions of the universe, there is an additional ritual of beating willow branches on the ground and praying for forgiveness for the misdeeds we have done to harm the earth. And we pray we may act with such serious effort to protect and heal creation that we become worthy of being rescued and that the bounties of the earth return to heal and feed us. 

Since willows grow near water, this ceremony celebrates the cycle of rain, rivers, trees and humans. We will perform the rituals at the sacred place where the Missouri and Mississippi rivers converge. Come to sing, dance, connect to humanity (adam) and earth (adamah),  and feel the life-affirming winds of two great rivers.