(Mishnah): How is the Mitzvah of Aravah performed?

They would descend to a place below Yerushalayim called Motzah and they would pick large branches of Aravah and lean them on the side of the Mizbeach (altar), with their tops bent over the Mizbeach.

They would sound three blasts on the trumpets - Tekiyah, Teru'ah and Tekiyah.

Every day of Sukos, they would circle the Mizbeach once and say (Tehilim 118, 25), "Ana Hash-m Hoshiyah Na; Ana Hash-m Hazlichah Na".

R. Yehuda: They would say "Ani Vaho Hoshiyah Na; Ani Vaho Hoshiyah Na".

On that day (the 7th day of Sukos) they would circle the Mizbeach seven times.

When they took leave, they would say, "Yofi Lecha Mizbeach (it is beautiful for you, altar); Yofi Lecha Mizbeach".

R. Eliezer: They would say, "LeKah Ulecha Mizbeach (to Hash-m and to you, altar); LeKah Ulecha Mizbeach".

(Gemara): What is the meaning of the name Motza? Exempt from Royal taxes.

R. Tanchuma: Its real name was Kelunaya.

Bar Kafra: The height of the Aravah branches was 11 Amos.

R. Yosa: The Mishnah teaches this, as it states that the top of the branches bent over the Mizbeach. (The Mizbeach was 10 Amos tall - the Yesod was 1 Amah, the Sovev was 5 Amos, above the Sovev was 3 Amos, the Keren was 1 Amah; and since the branch was leaning, it needed to be another Amah long.)

Question (R. Zeira to R. Daniel son of Rav Katina): Did you hear from your father whether the Aravah service requires a blessing to be made, whether it is taken by itself (without anything else tied to it) and whether it has a Shiur (to be explained)?

Response (R. Aiyvu bar Nagri quoting Rav Chuna): I heard that it requires a blessing and it is taken by itself; but I did not hear whether it has a Shiur.

In Bavel they say - Rav Sheshes and Rav Nachman bar Yaakov disagree over the Mitzvah of Aravah - one says that three twigs with moist leaves are used; the other one says that even one twig is valid.

Beraisa: Kohanim with a disability (Ba'alei Mum) enter to circle the Mizbeach holding Aravos. (This means that they enter the area between the Ulam, which is the entrance-hall of the Heichal, and the Mizbeach.)

Question (R"SBL to R. Yochanan): But may they enter that area?

Response (R"Y): They are permitted to enter because they are coming to circle the Mizbeach; they are only prohibited when they are coming without a need (which would usually be the case). (Note: This entry follows the explanation of Rav Chaim Kanievski.)

R. Abahu quoting R. Yochanan: Our Mishnah should write the word Vaho with the letter Alef (Ani Vaho (והוא) Hoshiya Na), as it refers to Hash-m.