The Joy of the Weeping Willow
On the last day of Succos known as Hoshanah Raba, there is an ancient custom instituted by our prophets that we take a bunch of arovos (willow branches) and hold them in our hand and pray to HaShem to give us a good and prosperous year. These branches which are known as hoshanos, hence the name of the day is Hoshanah Raba, the day of the great Hoshanah.
It is noteworthy that these arovos are one of the four types of plants that we are commanded to hold together and shake in a specific manner each day of Succos. In order of prominence, the Esrog is first as being the plant that has good taste and good smell, representing the Jew that has much Torah knowledge and performs many mitzvos. Next is the Lulav, the branch of the date tree. The Lulav whose fruit has good taste but lacks fragrance represents the Jew who has much Torah knowledge but is lacking in his performance of mitzvos. The myrtle branch which has pleasant fragrance but lacks taste represents that Jew who performs many mitzvos but lacks in his Torah knowledge. And finally there is the arava, the willow branch who has neither taste nor fragrance. This plant represents the Jew who is lacking in Torah knowledge and in performance of mitzvos.
It is therefore strange that the willow branch is the one chosen to participate in the Hoshanah Raba prayers. Would it not make more sense to use the Esrog who represents the Jew on the highest level?
It seems to me that the prophets recognized that there is another quality that the arava has which the others do not! What is that quality? The willow branch is always thirsty for water. No matter how much water it gets it does not drown, it drinks it all. I believe the following story illustrates and underscores this quality.
Yiddle Wallis was raised in an observant family in pre-World War II Poland. As such he had worn tefillin as a child. However, since his being torn from his family and living under the horror of the Nazi beasts in various concentration camps his observance fell to the side. Five years later just before the end of the war, a fellow Jew on his way to being killed tossed out his tefillin and was caught by Yiddle. Yiddle decided that he was going to wear them. However, before placing these tefillin on his arm and his head he offered his fellow inmates the opportunity to don those tefillin. Finally, everyone who wished to wear the tefillin was given their opportunity he was going to do the same. The Nazi guard, however, discovered what was going on and caught Yiddle. He told Yiddle that he was going to be publicly hanged in the main square of the camp. He was placed on a platform with a noose around his neck and was offered one wish before he was to be killed. Yiddle proudly responded that he wished to put on those tefillin before being killed so that he would be hung wearing his tefillin on his arm and his head. His wish was granted. There he stood in front of the entire camp slowly and methodically with much joy placing the precious Tehillim on his arm and then upon his head and finally upon his fingers. As he did this he recited the beautiful traditional verses. These verses reflect the love which HaShem has for His people and how He will never forsake them. All during this spectacle the audience was in tears. Yiddle called out to them “My fellow Jews do not be sad for me. This was a joyous moment in my short life. I am going to leave this world with pride knowing that we have endured the Germans. They will never break the Jew!” (For the complete story I recommend you read “Incredible” by Rabbi Nachman Seltzer.)
Behold! Here was a young man who was appropriately represented by the willow branch, had already abandoned his mitzvah observance and was certainly not knowledgeable of the Torah and nevertheless there was a very deep wellspring of connection to HaShem that sprang forth in the right moment. It is specifically the willow branch who although he has no taste and no fragrance it is he who demonstrates the deep rooted yearning to be close to HaShem and to His mitzvos.
Is it a wonder that HaShem loves every single Jew?! Inside every Jew lies a yearning to be close to Him. There is a parched thirst that only closeness to HaShem can quench. When the Jew is pushed to the corner his most beautiful colors will shine.
As we hold this willow branch, we plea with HaShem with a thirst for HaShem’s salvation. We know that in the merit of the arava HaShem will pay attention and will answer our cries.
Have a wonderful Shabbos and a most joyous Hoshanah Raba, Shmini Atzeres and Simchas Torah
Paysach Diskind