It is the loving partnership of God’s blessing of rain and man’s labour that results in the fruits on our table.
By Rabbi Ari Enkin, Rabbinic Director, United with Israel
The Etrog is undoubtedly the most beautiful of the Four Species; it is even required to be beautiful, as is hinted in its very name ‘hadar’, also meaning ‘beauty’. People spend huge sums of money on the Etrog, in contrast to the other three cheaper species. It is the species with both taste and smell, representing people with both mitzvot and good deeds.
However, when we perform the mitzva, it appears to be less important than the other three species. It is taken alone in the weaker hand, separate from the other three species bound together in the stronger hand. Similarly, the blessing is “al netilat lulav” and not “al netilat etrog.” Why is this so?
The Rosh Yeshiva of Yerucham, Rabbi Uriel Eitam, presents an eye-opening explaination of the Four Species.
In the verse describing them, not only is there a botanical description of each species (citrus, date etc), but there is also a description of which specific part of that plant must be taken. The fruit of the… the palm or trunk of the… the branch of the… For the Arava, the Torah states that they must be willows that grow in a stream, representing the connection of the plant to the water. This is through the roots of the willow.
Indeed, willows are known to have particularly strong roots. Thus, when taking the Four Species, we are essentially collecting four of the main components of a tree: the roots, the trunk, the branches and the fruit. By tying these species together, we are in essence creating a new tree, composed of different parts of choice plants.
The Four Species are essentially one, unified super species. It is for this reason that the blessing is on the Lulav, for the spine of the tree is the central, main part of a tree. We are displaying our gratitude to Hashem in all areas of the agricultural process.
The second name for the festival of Sukkot is ‘Chag ha’Asif’, the Festival of Gathering. This is referring to the joy at the end of the agricultural year, when the produce is finally collected and brought home. Interestingly, this name is only mentioned in the Torah by the mitzva of the Four Species, but not by the mitzva of Sukkah. What is the connection between the gathering of the produce and the Four Species?
In fact, on Sukkot we begin saying ‘Mashiv haRuach u’Morid haGeshem’, reminding us that God is the source of our rain, and ultimately the growth of all of our produce. It is this loving partnership of God’s blessing of rain and man’s labour that results in the fruits on our table. So enjoy, and Chag Sameach!