![]() ![]() The bundle is assembled and held so that the Lulav's spine is facing the user, with the three Hadassim branches on the user's right, and placed so that their tops are slightly above the two Aravos branches on the user's left. Three of the species, the Lulav (date palm), the Hadassim (3 myrtle branches) and the Aravos (2 willow branches), are bundled together in a wrapper made of woven palm fronds, with the Lulav at the center of the bundle. The Lulav, Esrog, Hadassim and Aravos must be grasped together in order to form the Arba Minim (four species). The Arba Minim is not used during the Saturday morning prayers in the synagogue, and should not be handled until the Sabbath ends. The blessing over the Arba Minim is not made on the Sabbath. Depending on the custom of the synagogue, the Hoshanos prayer is recited either after Hallel or following the Mussaf Amidah prayer.Īre the Arba Minim Used Every Day of Sukkos? One also holds the Arba Minim during the Hoshanos prayer, while walking around the synagogue, following the Chazan (cantor). ![]() When else are the Arba Minim used during the morning prayer service? The Arba Minim are held throughout the Hallel prayer and waved at three points during that prayer. However, many observe the custom of the Ari, the master of the Kabbala, who recited the blessings over the Arba Minim in the Sukkah. The Arba Minim are then waved in the traditional fashion (see directions below) after the blessing is made. The blessings over the Arba Minim are said during the morning (Shacharis) prayers just before the recitation of the Hallel. Where, When and How Is the Blessing Made Over the Arba Minim Made? However, it has become customary for women to use the Arba Minim as well, and for parents to buy less expensive, educational "chinuch" Arba Minim sets for use by young children (under age 13) to practice the mitzvah. Similarly, for the Jewish people to achieve its destiny, all Jews, regardless of their backgrounds, must come together in a unified effort.Īs a "time dependant" commandment, Jewish tradition teaches that Arba Minim is voluntary for women, nor is it required of children. Yet, on Sukkos, the mitzvah of the Arba Minim requires that we must take all four components and put them together in the service of the L-rd. By contrast, Hadassim (myrtle) have a pleasing scent, but no taste, like a Jew with good deeds, but no learning, while the Aravos (willow) have neither taste nor scent, like those Jews without learning nor good deeds. The Medrash in Leviticus (Vayikra Rabbah 30) compares the Esrog, which has both a pleasing taste and a pleasing scent, to the pious Jew who has both Torah learning and good deeds ( mitzvos ) The Lulav (date palm) bears fruit (dates) with taste, but no scent, similar to a learned Jew without good deeds. One of them is to dramatize the need for the unity of the Jewish people. Our rabbinic sages teach that the mitzvah of the Arba Minim has many symbolic meanings. ![]() What Is the Significance of the Arba Minim? Third, since the Torah says that we must take the Arba Minim to ourselves, that is interpreted to mean that we must own the Arba Minim we are using in order to fulfill the mitzvah (at least on the first day). As a result, requirements that the Arba Minim must meet to be deemed kosher for use on the last six days of Sukkos are less stringent than the requirements to fulfill the mitzvah on the first day. The use the Arba Minim on the other six days of Sukkos, in the period since the destruction of the Bais Hamikdash (Temple in Jerusalem) more than 1900 years ago, is a rabbinic ordinance. Second, it teaches us that the primary mitzvah to take the Arba Minim is on the first day. First, it teaches us that all four of the Arba Minim are required in order to fulfill the mitzvah. The commandment to take the Arba Minim is described in the Torah: "And you should take for yourselves on the first day (of Sukkos) the fruit of the beautiful tree (the Esrog), the branch of a palm tree (Lulav) a bough from the Myrtle tree (Hadassim) and the willows of the stream (Aravos), and you shall rejoice before your G-d for seven days." (Leviticus/Vayikra 32:40)Īccording to Jewish tradition, this passage defines our understanding of the Mitzvah of Arba Minim, and teaches us the requirements for each of the four species. However, the Jewish laws governing their use can be complex, so the reader is urged to consult their rabbi for more specific directions. This is a general guide to the proper use of the Arba Minim. ![]()
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