Aravah

The festival waving

During six days of Sukkot, avoiding the Sabbath, worshippers gather the aravah as one of the Four Species alongside the lulav, myrtle, and citron. Two willow stems are tied into the bundle. Participants wave this bouquet upward, downward, and toward the four compass points. This movement acknowledges divine sovereignty across creation and serves as an appeal for rainfall to sustain plant life across the world. Because willow branches lose their moisture and wither within a few days of harvest, people store them wrapped in damp towels or keep them chilled in refrigerators to preserve their freshness for the ritual.

Hoshanah Rabbah custom

On Hoshanah Rabbah, the final day of the festival, the community carries out an additional custom during the synagogue morning service. After waving the Four Species, each person holds a separate set of five willow twigs. The congregation recites liturgical readings that conclude with lines welcoming the arrival of the Messiah. Worshippers then beat the bundle against the floor until many leaves detach. The reasons for striking the branches come from Kabbalistic thought. Afterward, people dispose of the twigs, set them aside to kindle the fire for burning chametz before Passover, or place them in water to sprout new trees.

Ancient Temple ceremony

According to the Mishnah, the rite was observed with grand public ceremonies at the Temple in Jerusalem. People gathered willow boughs from Motsa near the city, leaning them upright along the sides of the altar so their tips curved over the summit. Each day, worshippers processed around while reciting Psalm 117 to the accompaniment of horns and musical instruments, except on the Sabbath. When the final ceremony ended on Hoshanah Rabbah, the children cast aside their palm bundles and ate their citrons.

How Aravah is kept

During Sukkot, two fresh willow twigs are tied with palm and myrtle, held alongside a citron, and waved in six directions during prayers. On Hoshanah Rabbah, worshippers take five separate willow twigs in the synagogue. After finishing special liturgical verses that express hope for the Messiah, they strike the bundle against the ground so the leaves shake loose. The spent branches are discarded, rooted in water, or saved for burning leavened food before Passover.

When and where

The observance occurs throughout the seven days of Sukkot, an autumn festival on the Jewish calendar, excluding the Sabbath. The special branch-striking ritual takes place specifically on Hoshanah Rabbah, the seventh and final day of the festival.

The tradition is practiced in synagogues and homes wherever Jewish communities celebrate Sukkot. In ancient times, the central ceremonies took place at the Temple in Jerusalem using willows gathered from the nearby settlement of Motsa.

What Aravah means

Waving the branches in every direction demonstrates recognition of God's dominion over the universe and acts as a plea for rains to nourish the earth. Beating the twigs on the ground on Hoshanah Rabbah connects to Kabbalistic traditions, while the accompanying prayers voice anticipation for the coming of the Messiah.

Days Aravah is marked

Questions people ask about Aravah

See also

PassoverA Jewish spring festival celebrating freedom from slavery with ritual mealsYom KippurThe holiest day in Judaism, dedicated to fasting, prayer and atonementRosh HashanahThe Jewish New Year marked by shofar horn blasts, prayer and sweet foodsSukkotA seven-day autumn Jewish festival of temporary booths, harvest prayers and hospitality

Good reading and sources

• Aravah (Sukkot) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-06.