The Mysterious Four Species.

It is mid-August, and a few of us are thinking about the High Holidays or Sukkot, which begins just five days after Yom Kippur. School has just started, the Las Vegas heat shows no signs of abating, and the idea of building ritual booths in our backyards is likely the furthest thing from our minds.   

And yet, we need to make sure we prepare for the Sukkot holiday.  One of the beautiful rituals of Sukkot is the shaking of the Arbah Minim, the four species formally referred to as the Lulav and Etrog.  Unfortunately, not many get to witness or participate in the mitzvah.   

The four species that comprise the set are the Lulav (palm brand), Hadasim (myrtle), Aravot (willow), and Etrog (Citron).  On the days of Sukkot, other than Shabbat, we hold the four species together, recite a blessing, and then shake the combination in six different directions: east, south, north, west, up, and down.   

There are many reasons given why we do the ritual.  It is an act of praise to God for the upcoming agricultural abundance. In modern times, it would simply represent gratitude for the richness in our own lives.   It is also a sign of unity, bringing together species that represent different tastes, shapes, and smells.  The differences are metaphors for the Jewish people.  Despite our differences, we are one people.   

Please purchase a Lulav and Etrog set and participate in this year's ritual with your family.  It is one of those hands-on mitzvot that brings together the whole family to celebrate our tradition.  It will help lend a sense of spirituality to your observance of the holiday.  

We make it easy to procure your set.  You can either fill out the form and submit it to the office or visit our website directly.  https://bit.ly/HH5786

Every kit comes with detailed instructions on how to perform the ritual, and I am always available to help as well.   

Shabbat Shalom, 

Rabbi Bradley Tecktiel