Hoshana Rabba: Staying Up All Night – for Water?

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times

The Mogain Avrohom (OC 664) explains that it is the minhag to stay up all night and learn Torah on the night of Hoshana Rabbah.

While it is true that the essential reason for this is because the entire world is judged on water, the Sfas Emes (Sukkos 5643 – cited by Rav Yeruchem Olshin in his Yareach laMoadim Vol II page 502) gives us an additional insight.

WATER – SOMETHING ELSE AS WELL

Rav Yehuda Aryeh Leib Alter (1847-1905) explains that the essential Tefilah of the davening for water on Hoshana Rabbah refers to Torah being referred to as water. The first pasuk in Yishayahu (55:1) mentions water:

1 Ho, every one that thirsts, come ye for water, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

THE NEXT TWO PSUKIM

But the next two Psukim clearly indicate that this water refers to Torah.

2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your gain for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
3 Incline your ear, and come unto Me; hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Therefore, one of the reasons that we Daven so urgently and that we stay up all night is because we are davening that Torah be a part of our lives.

It is not just physical water that we are blessed with – it is also spiritual water in which we receive blessing.

Let’s remember – Ki Haim Chayainu – We have to make sure that Torah is not just a side thing – it is the essence of who we are, and every aspect of our make-up.

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