The "Four Species" and the Shaking of the Lulav.
What is a Lulav and Etrog?
During the fall season after the high holidays comes a fun and exciting holiday named Sukkot. Sukkot is known for the Sukkah (hut) which is slept and eaten in During the weeklong festival and the “Four Species” which are bound together and waved in the synagogue in the holiday. Two of the four, and the most prominent are the Lulav and Etrog. The Lulav is a closed frond from the Date Palm Tree. The Etrog fruit is from the citrus family, similar to a lemon.
When all four are together they are waved in the 4 cardinal directions plus up and down, to represent the encompassing nature of the creator. Each of the four species represents a different type of person, since each has unique characteristics, yet they all complement each other, and the mitzvah is not complete until they are together.
In the days when the Temple stood in Jerusalem, there was a mitzvah to take the lulav and other 3 species together for all 7 days of the festival on the Temple Mount. Today since no temple stands the 4 species are waved in the synagogue or inside of the sukkah each of the 7 days of the festival.
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Lulav
A Lulav comes the frond section of the date palm tree. It is cut early in the season before the leaves spread and opens up. The leaves are still closed, and they resemble something like a dense branch or stick. The lulav is usually about a meter long and is the longest of the 4-species bundled together. The Lulav must comply with Jewish law and should be straight without splits or fractures along the leaves at the tip.
This helps explain the symbolism of the Lulav which is often referred to as the “backbone” of the bundle since it is the largest but also because it is upright and firm. Some commentators explain that this is how one should act, in an upright fashion.
Etrog
Etrog is another distinct item of the 4 species. The Etrog is unlike other citrus fruits it lacks any major culinary uses. They grow to many different sizes from a golf ball size to larger than a soft ball, but always have very little fruit inside. To meet the minimum qualifications according to Jewish law the Etrog must have certain features. The Pitom, which protrudes from the fruit, must not fall off after the fruit has been detached from the tree. There should also be no significant damaged parts to the fruit, or black spots. The biblical verse that references the Etrog actually calls the tree a “beautiful fruit tree” so people often go out of their way to find the most beautiful Etrog for the festival.
The Etrog is often called the heart of the bundle. The Etrog is delicate, must be cared for, and stands out as the only one of the species that is not vegetation. Not to mention the shape of the Etrog is like a heart.
Check out our Holiday section, where you will find many Succos and other holiday related items:
https://www.shtotty.com/holidays/succos-and-simchas-torah
Don't forget to check out our Books section for books, workbooks, Jewish music, and other holiday items.
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