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Aravot: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Aravot.jpg|200px|right]] | [[Image:Aravot.jpg|200px|right]] | ||
One of the four species mentioned in the Torah to be taken on Sukkot is ערבי נחל which are translated as the leafy branch of a specific type of willow tree. They are described by the torah as willows of the river because most of this species grows by the river.<Ref>The Pasuk in Vayikra 23:40 says one should take Arvei Nachal as part of the four species. The Rambam (Shofar VeSukkah 7:3) writes that since most of this species of willow grows by the river the Torah called it Arvei Nachal, a leafy tree that grows by the river.</ref> | One of the four species mentioned in the Torah to be taken on [[Sukkot]] is ערבי נחל which are translated as the leafy branch of a specific type of willow tree. They are described by the torah as willows of the river because most of this species grows by the river.<Ref>The Pasuk in Vayikra 23:40 says one should take Arvei Nachal as part of the four species. The Rambam (Shofar VeSukkah 7:3) writes that since most of this species of willow grows by the river the Torah called it Arvei Nachal, a leafy tree that grows by the river.</ref> | ||
==Signs of a Kosher Aravah== | ==Signs of a Kosher Aravah== | ||
# The leaves are supposed to be long, narrow, and have a smooth edge. Although the leaves usually have a smooth edge, if the edge has small bumps and is serrated like a small sickle it is nonetheless Kosher for the mitzvah. However, if the leaves are rounded, the edges are serrated like a saw, and the stem is white it is not Kosher for the mitzvah.<ref>The Mishna (Sukkah 33b) writes that a safsafa is not Kosher in place of aravah. The Gemara 34a writes that the aravah has drawn out (long and narrow) leaves with smooth edges, whereas the safsafa has round leaves with serrated edges that are like a sickle. The gemara then says that there is one kosher type of aravah, the chilfa gila, which has leaves that are like sickles, but a willow branch with leaves like a saw are pasul. Rashi explains that the chilfa gila has leaves which are like a sickle, meaning that the serrated edges face inward, whereas if the leaves are like a saw such that the serrated edges point outward it is pasul. The Rambam (Shofar VeSukkah 7:4), however, explains that there is one kosher type of aravah which has leaves that have small bumps like sickles, however, the safsafa has serrated edges like a saw. (The Kesef Mishna there points out this dispute between Rashi and the Rambam). The Tur 647:1 follows the explanation of Rashi, whereas S"A 647:1 follows the Rambam's. Chazon Ovadya (p. 316) follows the explanation of S"A.</ref> | # The leaves are supposed to be long, narrow, and have a smooth edge. Although the leaves usually have a smooth edge, if the edge has small bumps and is serrated like a small sickle it is nonetheless Kosher for the mitzvah. However, if the leaves are rounded, the edges are serrated like a saw, and the stem is white it is not Kosher for the mitzvah.<ref>The Mishna (Sukkah 33b) writes that a safsafa is not Kosher in place of aravah. The Gemara 34a writes that the aravah has drawn out (long and narrow) leaves with smooth edges, whereas the safsafa has round leaves with serrated edges that are like a sickle. The gemara then says that there is one kosher type of aravah, the chilfa gila, which has leaves that are like sickles, but a willow branch with leaves like a saw are pasul. Rashi explains that the chilfa gila has leaves which are like a sickle, meaning that the serrated edges face inward, whereas if the leaves are like a saw such that the serrated edges point outward it is pasul. The Rambam (Shofar VeSukkah 7:4), however, explains that there is one kosher type of aravah which has leaves that have small bumps like sickles, however, the safsafa has serrated edges like a saw. (The Kesef Mishna there points out this dispute between Rashi and the Rambam). The Tur 647:1 follows the explanation of Rashi, whereas S"A 647:1 follows the Rambam's. Chazon Ovadya (p. 316) follows the explanation of S"A.</ref> | ||
