ערבה I

עֲרָבָהI f. (b. h. עֲרָבִים pl.; עָרַב I, v. אֲרַבְתָּא) willow, willow-branch, esp. the boughs of the willow attached to the Lulab, and the willow branch used in the Temple in procession around the altar during the Succoth festival. Sifra Emor, Par. 12, ch. XVI, a. e. (ref. to Lev. 23:40) ערבי נחל שתים ע׳ ללולב וע׳ למקדש ‘willows of the brook alludes to two, one willow for the Lulab, and one for the Temple procession. Succ.34a עשר נטיעות ע׳ ניסוךוכ׳ the law concerning ten young trees (Shebi. I, 6), the custom of the procession with the willow branch, and that of the water libation are Sinaitic traditions (v. הֲלָכָה). Ib. ע׳ קנה שלהוכ׳ the willow (fit for the religious ceremony) has a red stem, its leaves are elongated, and their outlines plain (not curved or serried). Ib. IV, 1 לולב וע׳וכ׳ for the ceremony of the Lulab and of the willow branch there are six or eventually seven days. Ib. 3 יום שביעי של ע׳ the seventh day of Succoth which is the special day for the ʿĂrabah (= יום הושענא, v. הוֹשַׁעְנָא); a. fr.Pl. עֲרָבוֹת. Ib. III, 4 שלשה הדסים ושתי ע׳ in the Lulab there must be three myrtle boughs and two willow boughs; a. e.