The Four Species ("Arba'at Ha-Minim" or "Arba'ah ha'Minim" or "Arba'as ha'Minim" in Hebrew) - a Sukkot custom involves taking four specific species of plants that are native to Israel and waving them in a specific, rabbinically prescribed pattern. These four plants are as follows: (1) Lulav (a date palm frond), (2) Aravah or Arava (a willow branch; actually, two aravot or willow branches are used in the ritual), and (3) Hadass or Hadas (a bough of a myrtle tree; actually, three hadasim or hadassim or myrtle branches are used in the ritual). These three plants - the lulav, the two aravah or arava branches (plural form in Hebrew: "aravot"), and the three hadass or hadas branches (plural form in Hebrew: "hadasim" or "hadassim") - are bound together in a specific, religiously prescribed way and are collectively known as the "Lulav", since the lulav or palm branch, which is located in the middle of the bundle of the three types of branches, is the most prominent of the three types of bound branches; and (4) the Etrog or Esrog (a citron, a lemon-like citrus fruit, and a cousin to the lemon). There are specific Jewish religious laws - known as Halakhah - that determine what is a kosher etrog or esrog, lulav, aravah or arava, and hadass or hadas. Once these laws are satisfied, then for each of the seven days of Sukkot, the lulav, the two aravah or arava branches, and the three hadass or hadas branches are bound together to make the lulav bundle and then for each of the seven days of Sukkot, during the synagogue services, the etrog is held in the left hand and the lulav is held in the right hand (in this sense, the lulav is the three plants bound together: the lulav, the hadass or hadas, and the two aravah or arava branches). While holding both the etrog and the lulav apart from each other, a special blessing regarding G-d commanding the Hebrew/Jewish people to "take" the lulav is recited. Next, the person holding the etrog and lulav brings his or her hands together so that the etrog and lulav bundle touch each other and then he or she points and then gently shakes the etrog and lulav bundle - meaning the Four Species - three times in each of the four directions and also up and down. Why do all this? Well, it is a mitzvah ("commandment" in Hebrew), meaning we are commanded by G-d to do this in the biblical book of Vayikra or Leviticus 23:40, which states that the Hebrews are commanded by G-d to: "take the produce of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook and you shall rejoice before Adonai your G-d seven days". In addition, the purpose of performing the prayer for this ceremony is so that G-d grants us adequate rainfall so that the vegetation will grow and grow in abundance for the coming year. It is a symbolic gesture to G-d and to show that G-d rules all creation - including ruling whether or not vegetation grows - in all directions. The ritual of shaking or waving the lulav and etrog while reciting or chanting prayers is seen in Judaism as fulfilling the verse in the book of Psalms (Chapter 35:10), which declares that "All of my bones shall proclaim, ‘O Adonai, who is like You?'" (Leviticus Rabbah 30:14). By performing the ritual in this manner, it symbolizes that a person is devoting one's entire body to the worship and praise of G-d.

Do all Jews agree on the commandment in Leviticus 23:40 to wave the Lulav?

Not all. The Karaite Jews, a breakaway sect of Judaism, who only believe in the literal interpretation of the Tanakh, or Hebrew Bible, and reject rabbinical Judaism, meaning the Talmud, Midrashim, and other rabbinic literature, maintain that in the biblical book of Nehemiah, in Nehemiah 8:14-18, it shows that the lulav was only meant to be used for building the Sukkah and not to be held and waved during prayer services in the synagogue. The Sadducees, another breakaway sect of Judaism, which lasted from about the 2nd century B.C.E. until sometime after the 1st century C.E., also agreed with the Karaites.

On what days do we shake or "wave" the Four Species?

Since it is a mitzvah ("commandment" in Hebrew, as in a commandment from G-d) to wave the Four Species, Orthodox Jews will perform this ritual on every day of Sukkot, except on Shabbat, or the Sabbath; specifically, male adults and boys who are over the age of bar mitzvah (the age when a boy takes on adult responsibilities, that is, at 13 years old; for girls, this is known as the "bat mitzvah" age, and this is when the girl reaches 12 years old). Women and girls are exempted from waving the etrog and lulav, though they may do so if they wish. For Conservative and Reform Jews, all Jews who are over the bar mitzvah (for a boy) and bat mitzvah (for a girl) age, that is, all boys who are over 13 years old and all girls who are over 12 years old will perform the waving of the etrog and lulav.

Where can we wave the Four Species?

Usually, the waving of the Four Species is done during the daily prayer services in the synagogue, but one can wave the Four Species either in one's home or in one's Sukkah. During the daily morning synagogue services, all the congregants leave their seats and make one hakkafot ("circle" in Hebrew; specifically, a ceremonial circle that is done in a procession) around the sanctuary, each holding their lulavs. The first point in the morning synagogue when the lulav and etrog are picked up and blessed is at the start of a section of prayers that are Psalms of praise to G-d and known as "Hallel" (Psalms 113-118 in the biblical Book of Psalms; "Hallel" means "praise" in Hebrew). During the singing and recitation of these six Psalms of Praise to G-d, the etrog and lulav are held in the hands of each of the congregants, the etrog in the left hand and the lulav bundle in the right hand, and while singing and reciting these six Psalms, the congregants then wave or shake the lulav and etrog in the religiously prescribed manner, meaning in the six directions at three different points in the chanting of these six Psalms. On the seventh day of Sukkot, known as Hoshanah Rabbah, the congregants make seven hakkafot or circles around the sanctuary, each waving their lulavim and etrogim in the appropriate manner.

Later on in the morning synagogue service, the congregants will put down their lulavim and etrogim when it is time for the Torah reading, but will pick up their lulavim and etrogim near the closing of the morning synagogue service for a unique ceremonial custom known as the "Hoshanot" (click below to see our Hoshanot web page below for further information).

Customs of Sukkot

The Four Species
Hoshanot
Simchat Beith HaShoeivah
Ushpizin
Ushpiziyot

More Sukkot Information

What is Sukkot ?
When is Sukkot ?
Sukkot E-Cards
Customs of Sukkot
Sukkah or Succah
Sukkot Readings From Scripture
Hol HaMoed Sukkot

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