Four Kinds, The

The movements we make with the Four Kinds each day of Sukkot are a meditation on bringing our emotions into balanced harmony. This meditation is grounded in the kavanot of the Ari, as explained in the siddur of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi.

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

The Midrash teaches that each of the Four Species on Sukkos represents one kind of Jew and concludes: “On Sukkos, all four Jews must join together, for each one completes the others.”

On Sukkot we shake the lulav and etrog. Learn how to do this mitzvah of taking “the four kinds”.

An address to children on Sukkos: Unlike other nations, who parade with a rifle, a Jew parades with a Lulav. And instead of bullets, a Jew arms himself with an Esrog. Instead of brandishing daggers or swords, a Jew carries Hadasim – myrtles, and Aravos – ...

The beauty of “the four kinds” is the etrog, the citron fruit. What distinguishes the etrog from an ordinary lemon?

Hallel during the Morning Prayers on Chol Hamoed Sukkos.

The mystery of a missing letter vav both in the verse that talks about shaking the lulav (Leviticus 23:40) and the verse commanding us to dwell in the sukkah (23:42).

During the Morning Prayers on Hoshana Rabba, the Rebbe waves the Four Species during Hallel and circles the Bimah for Hoshanos.

“The word ‘Esrog’ forms an acronym for the verse: ‘Let not the foot of arrogance overtake me.’ This is especially pertinent to a successful doctor, that he should never claim: ‘My own strength has brought me my success.’”