Siman 660

The matter of the Hoshanot is a remembrance of the Temple. For we learned in a Mishnah (41a): Every day they would encircle the altar one time, and on the seventh day seven times. In the Temple they learned this from Jericho, as is found in the Yerushalmi there, and in Midrash Shocher Tov on the verse "Hear, O Hashem, my righteousness." Therefore, we also encircle the bimah with our lulavim and etrogim every day one time, and on Hoshana Rabbah seven times. We place a Sefer Torah on the bimah and cry out "Hoshana," meaning: "Save now Your people, the remnant of Israel, from all the troubles surrounding them—in the merit of the Torah, and in the merit of Your great Name." For, as it were, "I am with him in trouble," and "Save now for Your sake, our G-d..."

Therefore we say: "Ani Vahu hoshia na," for these are two names from the Name of seventy-two, which is derived from three verses: "Vayisa," "Vayavo," "Vayet." And they chose these two names based on "And I [Ani] was among the exiles" and based on "And he [Vehu] was bound in chains," for this indicates, as it were, as if He, may He be blessed, is in exile. As they, of blessed memory, said: They were exiled to Babylon and the Shekhinah was with them, as it is written: "I am with him in distress." And "Ani" always refers to His Name, may He be blessed, as it is written throughout the Torah: "I [Ani] am Hashem..." – since besides Him, may He be blessed, no one can essentially say "Ani," which is an expression of one who possesses power, from the language of "on," for there is no power besides Him, may He be blessed. Furthermore, it is written: "I, I [Ani Ani] am He, I kill and I make alive," for this verse speaks of the protection of Israel. For this reason we say: You who said "Ani Ani Hu" – hoshia na (the Rambam in the Commentary on the Mishnah there). And "Vahu" also refers to Him, may He be blessed, for these are the last two letters of the Name Havayah. And one must say "Vahu" with a melafum and not with a cholam. And also "Ani Vahu" in gematria is "Ana Hashem" (Rashi there).

One sefer Torah is placed upon the bimah, and on Hoshana Rabbah, seven sifrei Torah. And there are those who bring out all the sifrei Torah. And a candle is placed in the aron kodesh, based on the verse "For a commandment is a lamp and the Torah is light." And one should not cast doubt on this regarding placing a mundane object, for since they do so for the honor of the Torah – there is no concern in the matter. And they encircle to the right, for all turns that you turn – must only be to the right. Therefore, when the people face the sefer Torah standing on the bimah – north is to the right. According to this, the shaliach tzibbur should also have to first turn his face toward the bimah, for if not, south is to his right. But the custom is not so, and he is subordinate to the congregation (see Magen Avraham, and according to what I have written it works out well). And on Shabbat they do not encircle, because there is no lulav on Shabbat. And also in the Temple they did not encircle on Shabbat. And they do not place a sefer Torah on the bimah on Shabbat. But "Hoshanot" are said even on Shabbat, as our teacher, the Beit Yosef, wrote in section 3: There is one who says that "Hoshana" is not said on Shabbat, but they did not practice so. Thus far his words, and such is the custom of Ashkenaz. But the Sephardim do not say it.

It is customary to encircle even one who does not have a lulav (Beit Yosef). And some say that one who does not have a lulav does not encircle, and so we practice. And on the seventh day, they take the aravah with the lulav to encircle (ibid.). But we do not practice thus, and so the Arizal commanded, not to join the aravah with the lulav. And one for whom mourning occurred during the festival does not encircle. And so too a mourner all twelve months for his father and his mother, and so they practiced. And even though there are those who questioned this (see Beit Yosef), nevertheless, such is the custom. Because we seek mercy and upon him judgments rest, unless the mourner is the leader of the city and is compelled to encircle.