“Give thanks to HaShem, for He is good; His lovingkindness endures forever!” Psalms 118:1
Shalom All! It has been far too long since my last post….still having to contend with the three deaths in my family and the subsequent fallout with legal, financial and homeowner leftovers.
Well, tonight, 20 Sep 2026, begins Yom Kippur…the Day of Atonement…the most solemn day on the calendar. May HaShem seal us all in His Book of Life for another year!!
After Yom Kippur, next Friday evening, 25 Sep 2026, we begin the seven days of Succot…Feast of Booths! Have you ever wondered why we are commanded to wave the Four Species before HaShem from inside our Succah? There is much to learn and it will blow your mind as to why and what it symbolizes!
Consider the following: We wave the ‘Four Species’ in a specific order and in six directions! Per Leviticus 23:40 says “You shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of a citron tree, the branches of date palms, the twigs of a plaited tree and brook willows; and you shall rejoice before HaShem, your Elohim, for a seven-day period.”
This is very important to understand as the ‘Four Species’ are identified as followed:
- Lulav (Palm Branch): A single mature, unopened frond of a date palm tree, representing the spine.
- Etrog (Citron): A fragrant citrus fruit resembling a lemon with a textured peel, representing the heart.
- Hadassim (Myrtle Branches): At least three leafy branches from a myrtle tree, representing the eyes.
- Aravot (Willow Branches): Two slender branches with smooth leaves from a brook willow, representing the lips
The significance of waving the four species is as Rabbi Weinrib says “Each time one brings the lulav towards himself, his thoughts should be to take the wisdom, bequeathed from HaShem and bring it into his heart, to internalize that concept, and infuse himself with love and fear. It should be done slowly, and this combination of thought and action elevates this barely understood activity into a sublime expression of connection to HaShem.”
The ’Four Species’ teach us they each allude to a specific type of a Jewish person. For example, Rabbi Weinrib quotes the Mirash Rabbah Vayikra which explains:
“The beautiful fruit of a tree, this is an allusion to the Great Sanhedrin of Israel, which the Holy One, blessed is He, honored with good old age. The Great Sanhedrin (High Court) consisted of 71 judges who met in the Chamber of Hewn Stone, a large room built into the northern corner of the Temple Courtyard as described in Tractate Middos 5.4 and Yoma 25a.”
“The branches of date palms, these are an allusion to the Torah scholars, who compel themselves to learn Torah from one another. They are not ashamed to seek the opinion of their counterparts. Alternatively, they make great sacrifices, traveling from place to place in order to study Torah from one another.”
“The branch of a plaited tree, these are an allusion to the three rows of scholars who sit before the members of the Sanhedrin. When the court needed to ordain another judge such as when one of its members died, they would select from these disciples.”
“The brook willows are an allusion to the two court scribes who would stand before the members of the Sanhedrin and write down the words of those who acquit and the words of those who convict.”
Further, the Midrash explains the Four Species are alluding to people of a different level of righteousness and scholarship among the people of Israel:
“The beautiful fruit of a tree, these are an allusion to the people of Israel, for just as the esrog has a taste as well as a fragrance, so among Israel there are people who possess Torah learning as well as good deeds. Torah learning is compared to the most notable quality of fruit, namely, its taste, while good deeds which are second in importance to Torah, are compared to fragrance, a less prominent feature of the fruit.”
“The branches of date palms, these are an allusion to the people of Israel, for just as the date palm produces dates that have a taste but no fragrance, so among Israel there are those who possess Torah learning but do not possess good deeds.”
“The branch of a plaited tree, these are an allusion to the people of Israel, for just as the myrtle has a fragrance but no taste, so among Israel are those who possess good deeds but do not possess Torah learning.”
“The brook willows, these are an allusion to the people of Israel, for just as the willow has no taste and no fragrance, so among Israel there are people who possess neither Torah learning nor good deeds.”
So, what is the picture HaShem is giving us through these four species on Succot? Per the Midrash Rabbah Vayikra, it explains “The Holy One, blessed is He says ‘Let the aforementioned groups all be tied together as one bundle, just as the Four Species are bundled together and thus, they will atone for one another. And if you have done so, at that time I will become exalted through you.’ Thus, it is written, ‘Who builds His strata in the heavens’ per Amos 9:6, and when He is exalted? When the people of Israel are made into one group, as it is stated subsequently, and founded His group upon the earth. These people can perform their function only when HaShem’s group on the earth is unified. Therefore, Moses exhorts the people of Israel, and says to them, ‘You shall take for yourselves on the first day the beautiful fruit of a tree, the branches of date palms, the branch of a plaited tree, and brook willows.”
“The mitzvah (Four Species) reminds us that no one Jew can accomplish his purpose alone. Bringing HaShem’s plan to fruition is a national endeavor, and in order to contribute in a meaningful way, one must see himself as a part of a larger whole, one limb in the great body of Israel. His aim should be to give his Creator reason to be pleased not only with his service, his accomplishments, but with those of Israel as a whole.”
“From this rule we learn that an individual cannot attain true joy of life if he lives only for himself, no matter how brilliantly or splendidly he does so. True joy can be found only when the nation is assembled before HaShem in the Sanctuary of His Torah, when the individual can merge his whole being and all his aspirations with those of the community.”
This all said, consider what is recorded in Nehemiah 8:15-18 which says “They commanded that they should announce it and make a proclamation in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Go out to the mountain and get branches with olive leaves, pine needles, myrtle leaves, palm leaves and leaves of the braided tree, to make succos, as written in the Torah. So, the people went out and brought these items and made themselves succos, each man on his roof, and in their courtyards, in the courtyards of the Temple of HaShem, in the plaza of the Water Gate, and in the plaza of the Gate of Ephraim. The entire congregation that had returned from the captivity made succos and dwelt in succos. The Children of Israel had not done so from the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, and there was very great joy.’ Ezra read the scroll of HaShem’s Torah day by day, from the first day until the last day. They observed the Festival for seven days, and the assembly on the eighth day, according to the Torah.”
Tractate Hilchot Lulav chapter seven from the Mishneh Torah explains further and says:
“The term ‘Frond of the date palm’ employed by the Torah refers to the branches of a date palm as they sprout, before their leaves separate and spread out in various directions. Rather, they should appear as a scepter. This is called a lulav.”
“The ‘Fruit of the beautiful tree’ mentioned in the Torah is the etrog. The boughs of covered trees mentioned in the Torah refer to the species of myrtle whose leaves surround its branches; there will be three or more leaves in each ring. However, if there are two leaves on the one level, with a third leaf slightly higher than them, that is not considered as covered. Rather, it is called a wild myrtle.”
“The term ‘Willow of the brook’ mentioned in the Torah does not include just any plant that grows by a brook, but rather a particular species, which is called the ‘Willows of the brook’. Its leaf is extended as a brook, its edge is smooth, and its stem is red. It is called a willow. The majority of this species grow near brooks. Therefore, it is called the ‘Willows of the brook’. Even if this species grew in the desert or on a mountain it would be kosher.”
“These four species are considered to be one mitzvah, and each one is required for its performance. All of them together are called the mitzvah of lulav. One may not diminish them or add to them. If one of the species cannot be found, a similar species may not be substituted for it.”
So, how are the four species to be waved? The Mishneh Torah explains:
“The desired manner of the fulfillment of the mitzvah is as follows: One should lift up the three species as they are bound together in one’s right hand and the etrog in one’s left hand. Then, one should pass them forward and back in ALL directions (Six in total) and up and down, shaking the lulav THREE times in each direction.”
“One passes the lulav forward and shakes the top of the lulav THREE times, brings it back to his chest, and shakes the top of the lulav THREE times. One follows this pattern when lifting it up and down.”
“At what point in prayer does one pass the lulav back and forth? During the reading of the Hallel (Psalms 113-118), at the first and final recitation of the verse per Psalms 118:1 and Psalms 118:29 and at the verse Psalms 118:25.”
Just a quick post about this subject. May you all have a blessed and easy Fast for Yom Kippur and a joyful Succot next week!! May the Final Redemption be so very soon in our days!!!
Shalom!