Living Torah Archives

During the Holiday of Sukkos, we take a palm branch, citron, and branches of myrtle and willow, and wave them together in every direction. In fact, it was the custom of our Rebbes that when waving the lulav, they would not only extended it forward and bring it back, but would move it out in each of the six directions, give it a shake, and then bring it back towards the chest.

A group of Chassidim representing Chabad communities around the world, along with members of the Rebbe’s secretariat, are invited into the Rebbe’s study, to choose for themselves the Four Species for the upcoming Festival. (Late 1970s)

The Four Species taken on Sukkos represent four types of Jews, from the citron which has both flavor and fragrance, and represents the Jew who studies Torah and fulfills its commandments, to the willow which is neither tasty nor fragrant, represents the simplest of Jews, who lacks both Torah and good deeds.

During the festival of Sukkos, the Torah commands us to take a citron, a date palm frond, a myrtle branch, and a willow twig and bring them all together. The Midrash adds that each of these represents a different kind of Jew.

The Rebbe inspects lulavim and distributes them to a number of distinguished individuals, concluding with a blessing for good and joyful tidings throughout the year.

During Chol Hamoed Sukkos, the Rebbe shares his Four Species with the Chasidim.

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.”

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 hadassim (myrtles) and aravos (willows).

For many years, Rabbi Yitzchak Maier Gurary and his father-in-law, Rabbi Mordechai Altein, would provide the Four Species to the Rebbe for Sukkos.

The Rebbe chooses palm branch, willows and myrtles for his set of Four Species for Sukkos.

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