Special Ladies Shiur and Social Shabbos Chol Hamoed 5 PM-6 PM at CTC
Rabbi Michoel Bodenheimer will present insights on Koheles at 5:30 PM. Please come 30 mins early for some cake and coffee in the Shul Sukkah.
Hoshana Rabba
Hoshanos are available for purchase, $10 each. Shacharis (Lulav & Esrog are used with a brocha; Tefillin are worn without a brocha; Aravos are used). From the perspective of its status as a Yom Tov, Hoshana Rabbah is the same as any other of the Chol HaMoed days. However, many extra prayers are added to the service on Hoshana Rabbah. The reason for this is that throughout the Yom Tov of Succos we are judged concerning the fate of our water supply. On Hoshana Rabbah, the judgment is finalized. The conclusion of any period of Judgment is our last chance to influence the Divine Judgment and, therefore, it is of great importance to us. The Chazzan wears a Kittel as on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We take out all of the Sifrei Torah from the Aron HaKodesh and bring them to the Bimah where members of the congregation hold them while the rest of the congregation, led by the Chazzan, march around the Bimah seven times with their Lulavim and Esrogim; all of the Hoshanos for Hoshana Rabba are said; when we get to “Taaneh Emunim” we put the Four Species down and we take the special Aravos of Hoshana Rabba (the custom is to take five stems that are bound together) into our hands (anything that invalidates the Arovos of the Four Species during Succos invalidates these Arovos on Hoshana Rabba); at the end of the Hoshanos we beat the Arovos against the floor five times according to custom.
Simchas Torah Night
- Ato Horaisa L’Daas (The entire Ato Horaisa will be auctioned and the winning bidder may honor different shul participants with the reading of each verse)
- Kohen Aliyah (A non Kohen may purchase this for a Kohen)
- Levi Aliyah (A non Levi may purchase this for a Levi)
- Yisroel Aliyah
Simchas Torah Day
- Ato Horaisa L’Daas (The entire Ato Horaisa will be auctioned and the winning bidder may honor different shul participants with the reading of each verse)
- Kohen Aliyah (A non Kohen may purchase this for a Kohen)
- Levi Aliyah (A non Levi may purchase this for a Levi)
- Yisroel Aliyah
- Revii
- Kol HaNearim: The fifth aliyah is designated for the children too young to have individual aliyos. They all crowd around the adult called for the aliyah, and he recites the blessing loudly, slowly, and clearly so that they can recite with him. It is customary to spread a tallis over all their heads as a canopy.
- Chasan Torah: The person designated for the concluding portion of the Torah on Simchas Torah is known as Chassan Torah, the groom of the Torah. This is a great honor and is usually reserved for a distinguished Torah Scholar.
- Chassan Bereishis: The person designated to begin the Torah reading of Bereishis on Simchas Torah is called Chassan Bereishis, the groom of Bereishis. Like the groom of the Torah, this aliyah is a high honor that is generally reserved for a distinguished person.