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Prague · 28 Cheshvan 5787

Shabbat this week · 16:02–17:11

Symbol

Etrog and lulav

אֶתְרוֹג וְלוּלָבetrog and lulav
Awaiting expert review

The four species of plants – the etrog citron, a palm branch, myrtle and willow – over which a blessing is recited on Sukkot.

01

Origin

Bible

The Torah commands that on Sukkot one take "the fruit of a hadar tree, palm branches, boughs of a leafy tree and willows of the brook" and rejoice before the Lord for seven days.1

Halakhah

The Talmud identifies "the fruit of a hadar tree" with the etrog and the leafy tree with the myrtle.2,3

02

Meaning

Interpretation

The midrash compares the four species to four types of people according to whether they have "taste" (Torah) and "fragrance" (good deeds); all are bound together.4

03

Use

Halakhah

The lulav, two willow branches and three myrtle branches are bound together. The blessing al netilat lulav is recited with the etrog in the other hand; then the bundle is shaken in six directions (na'anuim).5,6

Halakhah⁂ To verify

A stolen or dried-out lulav is invalid; an etrog must not have a damaged pitam (the remnant of the stigma), if it had one.7,8

Halakhah

Outside the Temple the commandment is fulfilled by Torah law on the first day and by rabbinic enactment on all seven days; the lulav is not taken on Shabbat.9,10

04

Historical development

History

The lulav and etrog are among the frequent motifs of ancient Jewish art: on coins of the Bar Kokhba revolt, on synagogue mosaics and on tombstones.11

05

Related traditions

Minhag

During the hoshanot the bimah is circled with the lulav; on Hoshana Rabbah seven times, and a bundle of willow branches (aravot) is beaten.12

HistoryCzech lands⁂ To verify

Etrogim are bought with great care; they are kept in decorated cases (etrogim), some of which are in the collections of the Jewish Museum in Prague.13

Folk customAshkenazim⁂ To verify

According to folk custom, women who wish to conceive, or pregnant women, bite off the pitam of the etrog after Sukkot or make preserves from the etrog.

FAQ

Why is the lulav shaken in all directions?

Traditional interpretation sees in it an acknowledgment of God's rule over all directions of the world, over heaven and earth.

What is done with the etrog after the festival?

It is often made into preserves or used as a fragrant plant for havdalah.

Is the lulav taken on Shabbat?

No. The rabbis forbade it so that no one would carry it through a public domain.⁂ To verify

Sources

See also