Today’s learning is sponsored

Sponsor a day's learning (thousands of minutes!) for only $72 click here https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/ODUwOTU=

 Summary 

 Mishna: 

 The mitzvah of aravah was performed in the Beis Hamikdash as follows:

Large stems of Aravah were brought from a place called Motza, in the valley below Yerushalayim. These were set up erect around the mizbeach and their tips bent over on the mizbeach. They would blow Tekiah Teruah and Tekiah blasts.

Every day they would surround the mizbeach reciting “Ana Hashem hoshiah na, Ana Hashem hatzlicha na”.

 Rabbi Yehuda: They would say “Ani Veho hoshia na” [ Rashi: These are mystical names of Hashem derived from permutations of the verses ‘vayisa, vayavo, vayet’ in Parshas Beshalach. Tosfos: A simple meaning is that when we are in trouble, Hashem is with us, Ani V’Hu].

On Hoshana Rabbah the mizbeach would be circled 7 times. 

 When they finished the mitzvah they would say “Beauty belongs to you, mizbeach” [beauty belongs to the place of service of Hashem. That is why Yerushalayim is praised for its beauty as well].

 Rabbi Eliezer: “Beauty belongs to Kah, and to you, mizbeach”. 

This mitzvah was fulfilled on Shabbos just as during the week, only that the aravos were picked on Friday and kept in gold basins so that they wouldn’t wilt.

 Rabbi Yochanan ben Berokah: They would bring branches of a palm tree, lulavim, and strike it on the ground beside the mizbeach [Tiferes Yisroel: This was done on Shabbos because palm branches keep fresh longer than aravos]. That day was called “Chibut Chariyos” [striking of the palm branches].

They would snatch the lulavim from the hands of the children and eat their esrogim. [One pshat is that this was done out of simcha, like Tosfos brings that the young men used to dress like cavalry and feign battle maneuvers at a simchas chasuna. The esrogim are not considered muktzah because since they belong to children, it’s not a real mitzvah. Another pshat is that the children would pull the lulavim out of its bundle, and they would eat their own esrogim].