The Precept of the Four Species
The four species are:
The Lulav, the Etrog, the Hadasim, and the Aravot.
The great Sages tell us that this Precept brings the revelation of knowledge and through this Mitzva of the four species we can come to understand, How the whole earth is full of His glory! (from HaShem Blessed)
So we can perceive divinity everywhere!
(Likutey Etzot de Rabi Natan)
The Active Precept of:
"Take Four Species at the Sukkot Feast" As it is written: "And you will take for yourselves on the first day: The fruit of a splendid tree, palm branches, leafy tree branches and willows river "(Vaikrá-Leviticus 23:40)
The Lulav (a palm branch), Etrog (Citrus - Citron), Hadas (Three branches of myrtle), Arava (two branches of willow), These species should be taken according to the position in which they grow; and once the person picks them up, they fulfill the obligation.
On Sukkot, we join these branches: Two willows in the left, a palm leaf in the center, and three myrtles in the right. We take the bunch in our right hand, and then we raise it next to the Etrog.
Then we shake them all together, three times in each direction: front, right, back, left, up and down. (The Sephardi and Hasidim have a different custom for this Precept).
Our Sages decreed that the four species must be taken during the seven days of the festival. But on Shabbat they prohibited taking them, even if it is the first day of the holiday, for fear that the person will transport them four amot (1.92m) on public roads.
Each of these four species is essential to comply with the precept, so that the lack of any of them prevents its fulfillment.
In case the person borrowed them, then they are not suitable to fulfill the precept on the first day, but yes, the rest of the days of Sukkot.
If species are stolen, they are never suitable!
A child who already knows how to shake the four species must comply with this precept, according to the law of our Sages, to be educated in the fulfillment of the precepts.
This precept must be observed only by Jewish men in all places and times, but women are exempt from complying with it (since they are not bound by certain precepts that are governed by times or schedules because they have very important tasks and priorities as it is the upbringing of the small ones).
Based on: Sefer kitzur HaMitzvoth, Rabbi Israel Meir Ha Cohen.
We wish you a Jag Suc ot Sameach!
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