Four Kinds, The

The four types of vegetation are taken every day of the holiday of Sukkot. Why these four? And do we go about doing this mitzvah?

Through the lulav, we draw down supernal consciousness

For the adventuresome folks 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.

The very virtues of the other three kinds--the understanding of the lulav, the feeling of the hadas, the across-the-board perfection of the etrog--spell their deficiency

Why do vacillation and hardship fuel growth? How can contradictory ideas embody a singular truth? Why does a simple physical deed elevate us to levels of holiness and G‑dliness?

The etrog says: "I am perfect." The lulav says: "Knowledge is everything." The hadas says "Action is the most important thing." The aravah says: "I am nothing." These are things we all need to say, at least once in a while.

The Angel Michael harnessed the horse to the wagon of mitzvot, and the wagon driver cracked his whip. Suddenly the wagon gave a lurch forward, flattening the piles of sins that had been obstructing its way...

On the cosmic mitzvah scale there really is no difference if I make a blessing over my lulav-and-etrog set, or if that same set is used by a Jew on the streets of Brooklyn.... mitzvah = mitzvah, right?

The taking of the "Four Kinds" is one of the primary mitzvot of the holiday of Sukkot. How is it done? Why is it done? When is it done? All this and more in this comprehensive section...

The two central mitzvos of Sukkos—the sukkah and the Four Kinds—have at their core the theme of Jewish unity.