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The Lulav is a closed palm frond shaken on Sukkot alongside willow (arava) and myrtle (hadas) branches, as well as with a citron (etrog). Although the word Lulav technically only means “palm branch,” it’s usually used to refer to all of the branches and sometimes the citron as well.
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Rejoicing with the Four Species
TANAKH
The commandment to take the four species and rejoice before God for seven days is a central ritual of the festival of Sukkot. The book of Leviticus, the third book of the Torah, outlines this commandment and its significance in the context of holiness and worship.
Children's Joy on Sukkot
MISHNAH
The joy of Sukkot is so profound that children express it by dismantling their lulavim and eating their etrogim after fulfilling the mitzvah. The Mishnah, an early third-century compilation of Jewish oral traditions, describes this unique custom during the festival of Sukkot.
Continuing the Lulav Tradition
MIDRASH
After the destruction of the Second Temple, Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai ensured the continuity of the lulav ritual for seven days outside of Jerusalem. This early rabbinic text explains how the observance of Sukkot was adapted to maintain Jewish traditions even after the Temple's destruction.
Binding the Lulav
TOSEFTA
The rabbis debated whether the lulav must be bound with its own kind or if it can be tied with other materials, such as a cord or gold bands. The Tosefta, a late 2nd-century compilation of Jewish oral law, records this debate and reflects differing rabbinic opinions on the proper way to fulfill the commandment of the lulav.
Divine Protection and Elevation
JEWISH THOUGHT
The lulav and sukkah are not just ritual objects but symbolize divine protection and the elevation of Israel above other nations. In Derekh Hashem, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto explains how the ritual actions associated with the lulav invoke God's light and power.
Walking with the Lulav
HALAKHAH
The practice of walking around the altar with the lulavim during Sukkot commemorates the Temple service and connects us to our historical roots. In his monumental 12th-century legal code, the Mishneh Torah, Rambam details the practice of Hoshanot, where congregants walk around the Torah ark holding lulavim and etrogim.
Rabbi Akiva's Unique Take
COMMENTARY
Rabbi Akiva's opinion on the Four Species challenges the accepted halakhah, offering a unique perspective on their precise observance. This Mishnah passage presents a debate between Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Ishmael regarding the number of each species required for Sukkot.
The Ritual of Shaking the Lulav
HALAKHAH
The Ashkenazic custom of shaking the lulav during Hallel is rich with symbolic meaning and specific practices. Rabbi Eliezer Melamed’s contemporary work explains the detailed reasoning behind the number of shakes and the particular verses involved in this custom.
The Art of Waving the Lulav
COMMENTARY
The specific times and manner of waving the lulav during Hallel are meticulously detailed, highlighting the dedication of some individuals who bless the lulav at dawn within the sukkah and wave it again during Hallel. The Mishnah Berurah, a comprehensive halakhic work by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, discusses the customs related to the waving of the lulav during Sukkot, particularly during the recitation of Hallel.
The Curvature of the Lulav
TALMUD
The physical condition of the lulav, especially its curvature, determines its fitness for use during Sukkot. The Talmudic tractate Sukkah specifies that a lulav curved like a sickle is unfit unless it curves backward toward the spine, which is its natural growth pattern.
Enhancing the Mitzvah of the Lulav
HALAKHAH
Maintaining the freshness and beauty of the lulav during Sukkot enhances the mitzvah. The Kitzur Shulchan Arukh provides practical guidelines for handling the lulav and willows, including replacing water on Yom Tov and purchasing fresh willows on Chol HaMoed.
Beautifying the Commandments
TALMUD
The concept of 'hiddur mitzvah' teaches us to not only fulfill commandments but to do so in the most beautiful and praiseworthy manner possible. The Talmud interprets the verse 'This is my God and I will glorify Him' as a directive to beautify the performance of mitzvot, including making a beautiful lulav for Sukkot.
Rejoicing Before the Lord
GUIDES
Rejoicing before the Lord with the lulav for seven days is a direct instruction from the Torah. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, a renowned 20th-century Jewish scholar, explores the significance of this commandment as stated in Leviticus 23:40.
The Minimum Measure of a Lulav
TALMUD
The lulav, an essential component of the Sukkot festival, must meet a specific minimum length to be considered fit for use. The Mishnah in Sukka 29b specifies that a lulav must be at least three handbreadths long, establishing a clear minimum requirement for this mitzvah.
Sukkot, Leopold Pilichowski 1894/95. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Gruss This painting may have belonged to Isser and Friedl Reifer, who fled their home in Vienna in 1938.  The Jewish Museum, New York.
Sukkot, Leopold Pilichowski 1894/95. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Gruss This painting may have belonged to Isser and Friedl Reifer, who fled their home in Vienna in 1938. The Jewish Museum, New York.
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