What are the Four Species?
Lulav (palm), Hadas (myrtle), Arava (willow), and Etrog (citron)
Source: Vayikra 23:40
In detail
The four species of Sukkot are the etrog (citron), lulav (palm branch), hadas (myrtle), and aravah (willow), commanded in Leviticus 23:40. A set normally contains one lulav, three myrtle branches, two willow branches (Shulchan Aruch, OC 651:1), and one etrog. Taking them is a daytime mitzvah, normally from sunrise; the whole day remains available if the morning was missed (OC 652:1). They are not taken on Shabbat, even on the festival’s first day (OC 658:2).
For a right-handed person, the basic sequence is:
- Hold the lulav bundle upright in the right hand and the etrog in the left (OC 651:2).
- Say “al netilat lulav,” adding Shehecheyanu the first time they are taken that year (OC 651:5), before completing the taking: either leave the etrog aside until afterwards or hold it inverted until the blessing is said (OC 651:5).
- Bring the species together (OC 651:11) and perform the prescribed waving (OC 651:8–9).
Left-handed practice differs: Shulchan Aruch retains the ordinary right/left arrangement, while the Rema reverses it according to the person’s dominant hand (OC 651:3). Sephardi and Ashkenazi instruction therefore may differ.
A Beit Din may ask why an ordinary borrowed set does not fulfil the first-day obligation: that day requires ownership (OC 658:3). A common mistake is borrowing without arranging the required gift. Ask the lender and your rabbi to clarify ownership rather than assuming permission to use means ownership.
Full study guide: Jewish Holidays
Support this project
Jewish Path is completely free and has no ads. If it helps you, you can support the project with a small donation.
Support the project