On every day of the holiday of Sukkot (with the exception of Shabbat) there's a mitzvah to take the "Four Kinds"—a lulav (date palm), an etrog (citron), at least three hadasim (myrtle branches) and two aravot (willow branches). Many purchase their "lulav sets" from their rabbis, in which case the rabbi ensures that they receive a ready-to-go, quality, kosher set. For the adventuresome folks, however, who wish to venture into the uncharted waters of the Four Kinds market, here are some basic guidelines and tips that, when followed, will allow you to be a relatively knowledgeable consumer.
In addition, the information below is valuable regardless where you purchase your Four Kinds—for certain common defects can invalidate an originally kosher set.
(The laws concerning the Four Kinds occupy several chapters of the Code of Jewish Law. Below we will only discuss the most common issues that arise nowadays. It is always wise, however, to show your Four Kinds to your rabbi to be absolutely certain that they meet all requirements.)
General Information
Beauty
Since "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder," no two people share the exact taste when choosing their setsThe Torah (Leviticus 23:40) commands us to take a "beautiful" fruit. Though the Torah is referring to the etrog, employing Talmudic methodology, the Sages deduced that the requirement of obtaining a beautiful product applies to the other three species as well. Therefore, while we will discuss various concerns that can possibly invalidate any of the Four Kinds, it is also important to choose specimens that are fresh and aesthetically pleasing. And since "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder," no two people share the exact taste when choosing their sets.
The Vendor
It is of utmost importance that you purchase your Four Kinds from a trustworthy, G‑d-fearing vendor, and that the etrog is rabbinically certified. An etrog that is harvested from a tree that was grafted together with another species – a practice that is unfortunately common, as the hybrid product is quite beautiful – is invalid for Sukkot use. Rabbinical certification guarantees that the etrog is from a tree that was inspected to ascertain that it is "purebred."
This is one of the reasons why many prefer to use an etrog that comes from the Italian province of Calabria, also known as "Yanover" etrogs. The etrog orchards in this region have been providing etrogs for centuries and are known to be of untainted pedigree.
The Lulav
All the leaves on a lulav are naturally doubled, with the two halves of each leaf folded over and tightly connected to each other. The middle leaf on the very top of the lulav, called the t'yomet – i.e., the leaf extending from the top of the lulav's spine, as opposed to the leaves that branch off from its two sides – is quite crucial, for if it is significantly divided then the entire lulav is invalid.1 If, however, it is only slightly divided, the lulav is still kosher—but ideally you should try to purchase a lulav whose t'yomet is complete.
The t'yomet is very delicate, and is very easily split. For this reason, the lulav should always be handled carefully; one should never allow its point to bang against anything.
Aside for the t'yomet, when choosing a lulav, one should try to find one that is straight and fresh (more green, less yellow).
The Etrog
The beauty of an etrog is determined by its cleanliness – i.e., its lack of any defects or discolorations – and its shape. The ideal etrog is somewhat oblong, not round like a ball; bumpy, not smooth; and its stem should protrude from a depression at its bottom.
An etrog that is missing even an iota of its rind is invalid2 (unless it was pierced while it was still on the tree and a new layer of skin grew to cover the cavity). Be careful with your fingernails when handling the etrog...
If the etrog has bubbles projecting from its exterior in more than two places, it is invalid. Similarly, it is invalid if it is discolored in more than one area. Discoloration only invalidates an etrog if it is noticeable when taking a precursory glance at the fruit; there is no need to closely examine it for this purpose. Often times, an etrog has light brown spots on its skin – similar to a scab – resulting from a leaf lying on that area while it was growing. These spots do not invalidate an etrog. Black spots on the etrog, however, do pose a problem if they are easily noticeable and appear in more than one spot.
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| The etrog's "pitum" |
Many – but not all –
etrogs grow with a
pitum, a stem-like piece of wood that protrudes from its top. If the
pitum completely falls off or is entirely removed, leaving the fruit bare, the
etrog is invalid. An
etrog that grew without a
pitum is 100% kosher.
Likewise, the etrog is invalid if its stem, on its bottom, is completely removed.
The main beauty of an etrog is in its top third, that part that slopes outwards. In this area, even one bubble or area of discoloration invalidates it.
The Hadasim
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| Mishulash |
In order for a
hadas (myrtle branch) to be kosher, its leaves must protrude from the stem in sets of three (or more). This pattern is known as being
mishulash, "tripled." If the leaves grow in sets of two, with the third leaf higher or lower than the other two, the
hadas is invalid. However, it is kosher as long as the top 4¼ inches of the hadas is
mishulash. Today, most
hadasim come prepackaged and certified kosher.
The Aravot
There are no real requirements for the aravah (willow branch) other than that it be from the correct species of willow: the "river willow." (One thing to be wary of: aravot are often quite long and are trimmed in order to fit the lulav. Care must be taken that they are trimmed from their bottoms, not their tops.)
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