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How is hashana rabba celebrated? What ceremony is performed?

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Final answer:

Hoshana Rabba is the seventh day of Sukkot, known as the 'Great Hoshana.' It is celebrated with a ceremonial procession in synagogue, involving prayers for salvation and beating willow branches to symbolize the casting away of sin. It's considered the last day of divine judgment, with time spent in prayer and study.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hoshana Rabba is the seventh day of the Jewish festival of Sukkot and is considered a significant day in Jewish religious tradition. It is commonly known as the "Great Hoshana" (great salvation). While the figure 16.5.1 description from the Golden Haggadah primarily describes Passover preparations, Hoshana Rabba also involves unique customs and practices.

On Hoshana Rabba, a special ceremony is performed in the synagogue where worshippers participate in a procession, carrying the four species as prescribed by the Torah: the etrog (citron), lulav (palm frond), hadass (myrtle), and aravah (willow). During the ceremony, worshippers walk around the Torah scrolls in the synagogue seven times while reciting prayers known as Hoshanot, asking for divine salvation. The procession is a key part of the service. Afterwards, it is customary to beat a bundle of willows on the ground, symbolizing the casting away of sin.

The day is also spent in prayer and study, with many staying up the night before to recite the entire book of Deuteronomy and Psalms. Hoshana Rabba is viewed as the final day of divine judgment which began on Rosh Hashanah, and traditional Jews often view it as the last opportunity to alter the divine decree for the year.

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