The etrog is referred to as "Citrus fruit" (Etz Hadar), and the Lulav is referred to as "Palm branches" (Kapot t'marim). Each species is said to kabbalistically represent an aspect of the user's body; the lulav represents the spine, the myrtle the eyes, the willow the lips, and the etrog represents the heart.

Why do we shake the lulav and etrog for kids?

Going with the harvest themes of Sukkot, one suggested reason for shaking the lulav and etrog in six directions (east, south, west, north, up and down — representing all directions) is that all four species require a lot of water to grow, so we are encouraging rain to fall and nourish the harvest.

What is the significance of the etrog?

etrog, (Hebrew: “citron”) also spelled ethrog or esrog, plural etrogim, ethrogim, esrogim, etrogs, ethrogs, or esrogs, one of four species of plants used during the Jewish celebration of Sukkot (Feast of Booths), a festival of gratitude to God for the bounty of the earth that is celebrated in autumn at the end of the ...

What's lulav and etrog?

The lulav is a cluster of plants: a palm branch, two boughs of willow, and three boughs of myrtle. The etrog is a citron fruit — basically an overgrown lemon. Together the lulav and etrog are called arba minim (ahr-BAH mee-NEEM), which is Hebrew for "the four species."

What are the four species used on Sukkot and what do they represent?

These species are lulav (palm branch), hadas (myrtle), arava (willow) and etrog (citron) and they are used to bless the Sukkah or booth in which Sukkot is celebrated. These four plants are mentioned in the third book of the Torah, Leviticus.

Lulav and Esrog Explained

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How do you hold the lulav and etrog?

Hold the lulav and etrog so that the top of the etrog is next to the bottom of the lulav and so that the etrog is covered with your fingers. Face east and, holding the lulav and etrog with both hands, extend your arms, shake the lulav and etrog together, then bring your arms back towards you. Repeat this twice more.

What do the 4 species symbolize?

The Midrash notes that the binding of the four species symbolizes our desire to unite the four "types" of Jews in service of God. An allusion is made to whether or not the species (or their fruits) have taste and/or smell, which correspond to Torah and good deeds.

Do we shake lulav on Shabbat?

Jews living in Israel should follow the laws that were kept in Israel. In fact It is forbidden to carry or shake the lulav on shabbat.

Can you eat etrog?

Etrog skin, when rubbed, is intoxicatingly fragrant, somewhat like a lemon. And although hardly a meal, the thick white pith inside is edible and mildly sweet.

Where does a lulav come from?

The lulavs come from the baby palm fronds on the tops of trees, where the newest branches poke out. They must be harvested when they are about a meter in length, but before the fronds begin to split and open, rendering them unkosher.

What is the purpose of lulav?

The lulav, part of a fruit tree, is used for a mitzvah during Sukkos (the harvest season) to remind us that all of the produce we just gathered has a higher purpose.

Is Etrog a lemon?

The Etrog citron looks like a large, knobby and sometimes ribbed lemon. It is a species of citrus fruit and is related to the Buddah's Hand. One characteristic of this variety of citrus is a very thick rind and aromatic skin. It has very small sections and many, many seeds.

What does the citron symbolize?

It is also thought that early Hindu tradition also used citrons as a symbol of prosperity, and Buddhists still use the fruit as a religious offering. There is also some evidence that Ancient Romans saw citron fruit as a commodity and symbol of wealth thanks to its perceived healing properties.

How do you say lulav?

noun, plural lu·la·vim [Sephardic Hebrew loo-lah-veem; Ashkenazic Hebrew loo-law-vim], /Sephardic Hebrew lu lɑˈvim; Ashkenazic Hebrew luˈlɔ vɪm/, lu·lavs.

How many Hadassim are there?

Hadass is one of the Four species (arba'ah minim–ארבעת המינים). The others are the lulav (palm frond), aravah (willow), and etrog (citron). Three hadassim are incorporated into the Four Species and are bound together with the lulav and aravah.

Where do Etrogs grow?

The origin of etrog, or yellow citron (Citrus medica), is unknown, but it was commonly cultivated in the Mediterranean. Today, the fruit is primarily cultivated in Sicily, Corsica and Crete, Greece, Israel and a few of the Central and South American countries.

Where does etrog come from?

The modern etrog

It is still grown in the orchards of Yemen in the same primitive ways as of old. Today, it is also cultivated by Jews of Yemenite ancestry in Israel.

What can you do with etrog?

Turn your etrog into decor for next year's sukkah. Slice and dry the etrog (air dry or low and slow in the oven is the way to go) then string the piece into a garland. Or, keep the etrog on hand for your next Havdalah -- simply cover the peel with cloves, like you would an orange, and enjoy the beautiful smell.

How do you bless lulav?

Blessing for the Lulav

The lulav is held up in the right hand, and the etrog is held pitom end (pointy side) down in the left hand. Facing east, recite the blessing. Then turn the etrog up and shake the entire bundle three times in each of six directions: straight ahead, right, back, left, up, and down.

What is a Hadar tree?

Taken literally, ets means “tree” and hadar means “splendor” or “majesty,” so that the biblical p'ri ets hadar simply means either “the fruit of a splendid tree” or “the splendid fruit of a tree.” ... The rabbis, therefore, interpreted ets avot as a tree with dense branches and identified it with the hadas or myrtle.

What makes an etrog kosher?

An etrog with an intact pitam is considered especially valuable, but varieties that naturally shed their pitam during growth are also considered kosher. When only the stigma breaks off, even post-harvest, the citron can still be considered kosher as long as part of the style has remained attached.

What is in a lulav?

Lulav ([lu'lav]; Hebrew: לולב‎) is a closed frond of the date palm tree. It is one of the Four Species used during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. The other Species are the hadass (myrtle), aravah (willow), and etrog (citron). When bound together, the lulav, hadass, and aravah are commonly referred to as "the lulav".