Watch: Rabbi Yigal Cohen performs the custom of beating the willows, and also – what is the meaning?
Rabbi Yigal Cohen was documented on Hoshana Rabbah performing the custom of beating the willows. What is the connection to the days of the Holy Temple, why is no blessing recited over the act, and…
Assessment
A video of Rabbi Yigal Cohen performing the Hoshanah Rabbah custom of beating willow branches is circulating. The snippet frames the practice as carrying hidden secrets tied to the Temple era, the absence of a blessing, and the symbolic link between five strikes on the ground and the sealing of judgment. For viewers unfamiliar with the ritual, the piece promises to unpack layers of meaning behind a seemingly simple act.