SUKKOT: The Fantastic Four

And, you shall take on the first day (of Sukkot) a fruit of a citric tree (etrog), branches of palm trees (lulab), a bough of myrtle (hadas)and willows of the brook (araba), and you shall rejoice before HaShem, your G-d, or seven days. (vaikra 23)

The commandment of taking the four species is for all seven days of Sukkot. Two blessings are said the first day, al netilat lulab and she'hecheeyanu and one berakha, al netilat lulab, is said for the other six days. One lulab, one etrog, two arabot, and three hadasim are taken on Sukkot.

The etrog is taken on the left hand and the lulab on the right hand.

The four species are not taken on Shabbat even when it falls on the first day of Sukkot. The mitzvaapplies during the day but not at night. On the first day of Sukkot, a person must be careful to take his own lulab and etrog. On the other six days, the lulab can be borrowed from somebody else. The etrog or Citron, resembles in its shape, the heart, the driving force behind all our actions. The lulab, a palm branch, resembles the spine, which holds the body together and, without which, we would be unable to move. The hadas - myrtle branches - resemble, in their almond-shape, the eyes, with which we behold God's world. And the arabot, the willow branches, resemble the lips, with which we give expression to our thoughts and feelings.

A MUST SEE: Four short videos detailing everything you need to know about the Fantastic
Four [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=jp7o69dab&et=1103704223690&s=705&e=001ev56FihnUrx4RXqonbOa57OLQoBzN9BFgeUyKxKKg7Z9luNv8U58dL4PGEvSB652mi-Nk-2Af2wfYChjTmlpeUMUOl9j6xYfT2F0k2CGGivdDNSXP1NT4IhwOwtRMzfsSxVatK-lq1x9pDQ9jVRVIg==]


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