Esrog
Now that you are a proud owner of a beautiful esrog, it’s time to ensure that it remains fresh and Kosher throughout the holiday. Firstly, be careful to keep your esrog in a cool, dry place. However, it is not a good idea to put it in the refrigerator, as this could cause it to dry up upon removal and possibly render it not kosher. When not in use, wrap your esrog in either foam or a cloth (paper towel works well), place it in a box, and store it in a safe place. If your esrog comes with a pitom (the small tip at the top), pay special attention not to break it off. This would render your esrog posul (not kosher). Try to limit touching your esrog to only when necessary.
Lulav
Store your lulav in a cool, dry place, but do not refrigerate. The Lulav is extremely delicate and can be the easiest of the four species to render unkosher. The most important part of your lulav is the dubbled center leaf that grows out of the spine known as the te’yomes, you will want to make sure that they stays closed tightly together . When using the lulav, make sure not to damage it by hitting the ceiling and or walls of the sukkah or anything else for that matter. Many people like to store the lulav in a specially made lulav bag, to ensure that they don’t damage the te’yomes.
Haddasim and Aravos
Unlike the lulav and esrog, a good way to maintain the quality of your aravos and haddasim is by placing them in the refrigerator. This will ensure that they do not wither throughout the holiday. When handling, be careful not to tear off any leaves, especially when attaching them to the lulav. They will arrive in a vacuum-sealed package. Do not remove them until you are ready to assemble your daled minim set.
The Esrogim Source is committed to supplying our customers with the freshest products on the market. However, we do recommend getting an extra set of haddasim and arovos at checkout, so that you can refresh your set during the intermediate days of sukkot.
Binding the Lulav, Hadassim, and Aravos
It is a mitzvah throughout the seven days of Sukkos, to take and bind together a lulav (palm branch), hadassim (myrtle branches), and aravos (willow branches). There are several different practices as to how to bind together these three species. Two of the most common customs are: 1) to bind them together using rings made from the leaves of the palm branch, or 2) to use a woven lulav holder, known as “koshelach”.
Each set requires no more than one lulav, two aravos, and a minimum of three hadassim. However, one may add as many hadassim as they like to beautify the mitzvah. There are various customs in different communities as to how many hadassim are taken. Some of the prevalent customs are: 6, 12, 18, 26 and 36.
How to preform the mitzvah
1. When performing the mitzvah of shaking the lulav and esrog, you will want to begin by facing east. Holding the Lulav in your right hand with the spine of the lulav facing you, recite the bracha Boruch attah Ado-nai Elo-heinu melech ha’olam asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al netilat Lulav. [Blessed are You G-d our G-d King of the Universe who has sanctified us with his commandments and commanded us concerning the taking of the Lulav.]
2.If this is your first time performing the mitzvah this year, you will also recite the bracha of “Shehechiyanu”. First, pick up the Esrog in your left hand (some hold it upside-down at this point, with the pitom facing downwards), and before bringing it together with the lulav, recite the following Boruch attah Ado-nai Elo-heinu melech ha’olam she’hechiyanu, vikimanu, vi’higi’anu lizman hazeh. [Blessed are You G-d our G-d King of the Universe who has granted us life, sustained us and enables us to reach this occasion.]
3. After making the appropriate blessing(s), the Lulav and Esrog are brought together. You will want to make sure that the Esrog’s pitom is facing upwards.
4. Now it’s time for the na’anuim (shaking the Lulav and Esrog). There are many different customs as to how to perform this ritual. However, the main thing is that all four species be touching each other throughout the process. The prevalent custom is that they be shaken in all directions – east, southeast, northeast, up, down, southwest, and west.