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 We learned in the mishna (34.1) that the mitzvah of Aravah supersedes the Shabbos in the Beis Hamikdash only on the seventh day of Sukkos. The mitzvah of lulav supersedes the Shabbos only on the first day of Sukkos. 

 Summary 

 Question: Why does the aravah supersede Shabbos on the seventh day? 

 Rabbi Yochanan: To let everyone know that it is a Torah law [this is referring to the aravah taken in the beis hamikdash, not to the aravos we take on Hoshana Rabbah which is a minhag nevi’im].

 Challenge: Then lulav [which is a Torah law too] should also supersede the Shabbos?

 Resolution: Indeed, but there is the gezeirah of Rabbah (34.2).

 Challenge: Why doesn’t Rabbah’s gezeirah apply to Aravah? 

 Resolution: The Aravah is done by the emissaries of Beis Din, while the lulav is done by the common folk.* 

 Challenge: Why doesn’t the aravah supersede Shabbos on all seven days to show that it’s a Torah law?

 Resolution: People would say that lulav is not important.

 Challenge: So let the aravah supersede Shabbos only on the first day; like lulav? 

 Resolution: It wouldn’t demonstrate anything about aravah specifically; people would think that it is only done because lulav is also done on the first day.

 Challenge: Why specifically the seventh day, why not any of the other days?

 Resolution: Since it couldn’t be done on the first day, it was set for the seventh day [the first and last days are easy to remember, another day would be confusing]. 

 Challenge: Why isn’t it done on Shabbos nowadays? (By emissaries of Beis Din. Rashi.) 

 Resolution: We don’t know which day is the seventh (34.2).

 Click here to listen to the shiur with Tosfos https://drive.google.com/file/d/14BFteFo7lfEWbOLkCQBWC8t7w_dRxnkK/view?usp=sharing 

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* Rashi adds that besides for the bringing, which is by special emissary, the mitzvah of surrounding the mizbeach is done by the Kohanim. Tosfos: This is necessary to be pointed out, as the gemara continues, that lulav is done by the common folk. Otherwise the lulavim could also be brought by special emissaries before Shabbos. There is a difficulty however with the gemara’s question later “the aravah should be done nowadays on Shabbos too”, Rashi deals with this question.