Reprinted from the "Chabad Chodesh"
HOSHANA RABBA
Tuesday Night - Wednesday, Tishrei 21/September 24-25
The world is judged for water on Sukkos, ending on Hoshana Raba. The Zohar describes it as a Judgment Day like Yom Kippur: The judgment of Yom Kippur is sealed, the parchments with the decrees are handed to the angels to deliver. Thus, it has special importance as a day of Tefillah and Teshuvah.
It’s customary to stay up the night of Hoshana Raba and read Sefer Devarim. After midnight we say Sefer Tehillim with the Yehi Ratzon for Hoshana Raba in back of Tehillim. There’s a custom for the Gabai to distribute apples and honey. We eat them after Tehillim in the Sukkah.
If you’re up all night, wash Netilas Yodayim and say Birchos Hashachar. [Igros Kodesh of the Rebbe, Vol. III: 409]
In the Beis Hamikdash every day of Sukkos, they brought willow branches, standing them with their tops bent over the altar. When they arranged them they blew the Shofar: Tekiah, Teruah, Tekiah. To commemorate this, the Prophets instituted taking a bundle of Aravos on Hoshana Rabah.
Everyone should get bundles of five Aravos for himself and his family. In the morning, before Hallel, remove the top two rings of the Lulav, leaving only the three binding the Hadasim and Aravos. In Shacharis, we say seven Hoshanos (see Siddur) and circle the Bimah seven times to commemorate the Beis Hamikdash. We don’t hold the Aravos when we circle. After Hoshanos and Kaddish, strike the Aravos on the ground five times and say the Yehi Ratzon. The five strikes sweeten the Five Gevuros.
It’s a custom to wash and eat a festive meal in the Sukkah today. It’s the last day we say “Leisheiv Basukah” and dip Challah in honey. It’s also the last day we say “L'Dovid HaShem Ori”.
Make an Erev Tavshilin
SHEMINI ATZERES
Wednesday Night - Thursday, Tishrei 22, September 25-26
Candle lighting is in the Sukkah. Say: "L'hadlik Ner Shel Yom Tov and Shechehiyanu".
“ . . . The Rebbe RaShaB said “We must treasure the forty-eight hours of Shmini Atzeres and Simchas Torah very much; in every moment we can gather barrels and kegs of physical and spiritual blessings. And this is through the dancing.” [Sefer Hamaamarim, 5711 p. 79]
We do Hakafos at night.
Minhag Chabad is to eat in the Sukkah by night and day. Don’t say “Leisheiv Basukkah”
We dip Challah in salt and not honey.
Yizkor is after Kriyas HaTorah.
Before Musaf the Gabai announces “Morid Hageshem”. If you say “Morid Hatal” instead of “Mashiv Haruach Umorid Hageshem”, don’t repeat the Amidah. We say the Prayer for Rain in the Musaf repetition.
Towards evening we eat in the Sukkah one last time. It’s not our custom to kiss the Sukkah when we leave for the last time, nor do we say a Yehi Ratzon.
In terms of the Ushpizin of the Zohar, and the Chassidic Ushpizin, of the holiday of Sukkos, it follows that Shemini Atzeres is connected with Shlomo Hamelech and the previous Rebbe. [Maayanei Hayeshua, p. 201]
SIMCHAS TORAH NIGHT
Thursday Night, Tishrei 23, September 26
Candle-lighting is in your house from a pre-existing flame. Say Lehadlik Ner Shel Yom Tov, and Shehechiyanu.
Since Simchas Torah night is very hectic, one must be extra careful to remember and to remind others to bentch licht!
We make seven Hakafos. We don’t read the Torah at night.
"...The time of Simchas Torah, particularly before Hakofos, was always an auspicious time for my sainted father-in-law, the Rebbe.
As such, also those who have several times asked for a particular brocha, for a need that has yet to be fulfilled, may now obtain its fulfillment.
Therefore, let them take mashke, and say "L'chaim" to the Rebbe, and take upon themselves a particular commitment to strengthen their ties with him, and through this all matters will be achieved. [From a Sicha of Simchas Torah 5711]
“ . . . My father (the Rebbe Rashab) said, “On Simchas Torah, every minute is a year.” [Sefer Hasichos 5702, p. 9]
On Simchas Torah all the gates of heaven are open, the gates of light, blessing, success, and all other gates. And one receives from them through Torah. [Sefer Hasichos 5709, p. 59]
“ . . . The Alter Rebbe said the first time the Baal Shem Tov spoke with his students about Simchas Torah he said: In general, on Simchas Torah, Jews sleep in a bit, because of the Hakafos and Seudas Yom Tov. The angels, however, don’t have that Avodah, so they get up early, as usual. They want to sing the Shirah, but without Jewish souls they can’t. They go to storm the Gan Eden.
Suddenly they find things there that they don’t know what they are: shoes and slippers, and they’re very surprised. They’re used to Tzitzis, Tefillin —but not slippers. They go off to ask the Angel Michoel, who answers that this is his merchandise: it’s from Jewish dancing with the Torah. He starts counting slippers: these are from Kaminka, these are from Mezeritch… And in this the Angel Michoel prides himself over the Angel Metatron, who ties crowns for his Creator from the prayers of Israel, while he, the Angel Michoel, makes a better crown, from the torn slippers of Simchas Torah dancing.” [Sefer Hasichos 5701, p. 31-32, the Rebbe elaborated on this story thirty years later Shabbos Bereishis 2nd Farbrengen 5731]
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Simchas Torah 5676 (1815) the Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek danced a lot, the healthiest of the young men couldn’t keep up with him, many fell down, and my great-grandfather kept dancing and as he danced he would announce, “Dance, Yidden, dance, enjoy yourselves with the Simcha of the Torah, and in its merit you will merit life, children and broad sustenance.
The Rebbetzin Chaya Mousia entered the room of her father the Mittler Rebbe and complained that he - the holy Tzemach Tzedek, her husband - was wearing out the Chassidim with his dancing. You - said she to her father, the Rebbe - should have seen how he is out of himself. My grandfather - the Alter Rebbe - told me that he has broad senses (chusim) his intellectual powers are broad and great.
The Mitteler Rebbe answered her: By him - the Tzemach Tzedek - is now illuminating the light of the simcha of the Torah like it shone in the Beis Hamikdash…
The night after Simchas Torah the Tzemach Tzedek used to change into another Kapote, because the first one was soaked with sweat and torn. When the grandfather - the Tzemach Tzedek - would go into his special room, the Mitteler Rebbe’s great Chassidim would get pieces of the torn coat as a Segulah for success in Torah and Avodah. (Sefer Hasichos 5703 p 11)
Simchas Torah Day
Friday, Tishrei 23, September 27
We do Birchas Kohanim in Shacharis. Before Kriyas HaTorah we circle the Bimah three and a half times and say seven Hakafos. Everyone gets an Aliyah, even boys under Bar Mitzvah.
Before Minchah we say Posach Eliyahu, and Yedid Nefesh (but not Hodu) since it’s Erev Shabbos.
On Simchas Torah we begin ChiTaS, learning Bereishis.
On Simchas Torah, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, stressed the importance of setting times for learning especially of Rambam and ChiTaS, as we begin a new cycle of Chumash.
We bentch licht for Shabbos from a pre-existing flame, we need to remember to light on time since it is Shabbos. The Brochah is Lehadlik Ner Shel Shabbos Kodesh.
ISRU CHAG /SHABBOS BEREISHIS
Tishrei 24, September 28
It’s Shabbos Bereishis and Shabbos Mevorchim Marcheshvan. We say Sefer Tehillim before Shacharis and bless the month. .
“ . . . It’s known the saying of the Rebbeim that the way we set ourselves up on Shabbos Bereishis so goes the whole year” [Likutei Sichos: Vol. 1, p. 1]
Remember to use the food of the Eruv Tavshilin.
“ . . . In Lubavitch they used to announce after Simchas Torah: “And Yaakov went on his way”. [Likutei Sichos: Vol. 9, p. 398]
We don’t say Tachnun for the rest of Tishrei.