God's Four Species

Sukkot

by Rabbi Avi Billet

Leviticus 23:40: "On the first day, you must take for yourself a fruit of the citron tree, an unopened palm frond, myrtle branches, and willows [that grow near] the brook. You shall rejoice before God for seven days."

This translation is taken from Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's Living Torah, where he has the following footnotes sourcing the definitions of the branches and fruit in question.

"citron tree - (Targum; Saadia). Hadar in Hebrew, usually referred to as Ethrog."unopened palm frond - (Sukkah 32a; Rashi)."myrtle branches – (cf. Sukkah 32b; Rashi). The practice is to place three such branches in the bunch."willows... - (cf. Sukkah 34a). Two are placed in the bunch, together with the palm frond and myrtle."

The curiosity that pervades these days – the kind that overrides the "Bible states, therefore it is" explanation – may cause people to wonder "Why these specific items? What, if anything, is 'special' about them?"

The Sefer HaManhig explains that the Etrog (citron) resembles a heart (in shape), and comes to bring atonement for the (sinful) thoughts of the heart. The Hadas (myrtle) resembles eyes (in shape) to atone for (sins) of probing eyes. These two follow the verse, "You will then not stray after your heart and eyes…" (Bamidbar 15:39). The Aravah (willow) resembles the lips, to atone for sins that come from utterances of the lips. And why the Lulav (palm frond)? Just as the Lulav (לולב) has only one heart (this is a play on the word Lulav – which can be read in Hebrew as "Lo Lev" (לו לב) – it has a heart of palm!), so too Israel has only one heart, which is directed towards its Father in heaven.

It would seem that the four species are heavily symbolic in that they help us achieve atonement that may have escaped our Yom Kippur efforts. This revelation would indicate that those who poke others with their Lulav, or who shake the Lulav set in a manner similar to a Jedi light-sabre, are missing the point of the mitzvah.

Even for those who don't care so much for the "shape of item resembles a body-part" approach, there are textual suggestions that make these items even more compelling.

In Vayikra Rabba 30:9, in a statement sometimes accredited to Rabbi Akiva, the Midrash demonstrates how each of the Four Species is a reference to the Almighty. The Pri Etz Hadar (Etrog) refers to God, as it says, "You (God) are clothed in majesty and splendor (Hadar)." (Tehillim 104:1)

The Kapot T'marim (Lulav) refers to God, as it says, "The righteous flourish like a date palm (Tamar)." (Tehillim 92:13) The Anaf Etz Avot (Hadasim) refer to God, as it says, "And He was standing among the myrtles (Hadasim)." (Zechariah 1:8) [This reference is to the vision of an angel.] And Arvei Nachal (Aravot) refer to God, as it says, "With His name [as identified in the verse], acclaim the One who rides the Aravot [the highest firmament of the heavens]."

By all rights, argues the Chid"a, we should not be allowed to use these items. These are God's belongings – the Lulav is comparable to God's scepter! Even were the king to allow his subjects to minimize his honor, the Talmud states in numerous places that he is ignored. His honor is not his own to discard.

However, explains the Chid"a, since the Children of Israel are described in the Torah as God's children (Devarim 14:1), the contrasted ruling to that of the king is that if a father forgives his honor, he is granted that allowance, and his children can make use of his property.

Some of the senior members of our People recall a time when very few individuals, or perhaps only the rabbi had a set of the Four Species. We are to be grateful that we live in a time when not only are the Four Species available all around the world, but most Jews can afford their own set.

As the holiday of Sukkot comes upon us, and we undertake the mitzvah of the Four Species, let us express our gratitude for the fortuitous circumstance that allows for the widespread observance of this mitzvah. Let us also appreciate the hidden depth in the mitzvah, as we are given the chance to get closer to God through holding and waving the items that are Biblically connected directly to Him.