The Shulchan Aruch, the standard code of Rabbinic law by Rabbi Joseph Caro (1488-1575), gives precise specifications concerning the requirements of form, appearance, and texture of the Arba Minim, the Four Species: Etrog, Lulav, Hadassim, Aravot.
THE ETROG
Etrogim regarded as being of superior quality are of medium size, their bright yellow surface furrowed and covered with blitos, bumps (a feature which distinguishes it from the ordinary lemon). To be considered ritually fit, the etrog must be shaped “like a tower” — its bottom larger than its top. The pitom, the flowered blossom at the tip of the fruit, and the uketz, the stem that is sunk into the broad base, must be examined carefully to make sure that both are present and intact. (If the pitom falls off or is broken during Sukkoth, a rabbi should be consulted. To avoid this problem, many people prefer to use etrogim that grow without pitoms.) The pitom should be directly in line above the uketz.
THE LULAV
The lulav is a small, young branch of the date palm. The leaves, two-fold and spear-headed, are linked to a solid central stem. Near the pointed tip of the lulav, the spine ends in a double-leaf called a t’yomet, twins. The tip of the t’yomet should not be split. The backs of the leaves should be light green, the fronts white.
A select lulav has a straight spine, against which the leaves lie flat, covering and overlapping one another.
THE HADASS
The oval leaves of the hadass cover the myrtle branch from top to bottom in groups of three, growing from one stem. The top of the branches should not be broken off and should cover over the stems of the upper leaves. Three hadassim are required for the mitzvah of the Arba Minim.
THE ARAVA
As the arava, willow, requires a great amount of water, it is commonly found near streams, ponds or rivers. Select aravot have long, slender green leaves with smooth edges, and a straight, reddish stem. Two aravot are needed to complete the Arba Minim.
CARE OF THE ARBA MINIM
Care should be taken to keep the Four Species from drying up during the seven days of Sukkoth. The etrog is usually wrapped in cotton or flax and kept in a special container of metal, such as silver, or of carved wood. It should not be refrigerated. The lulav should be kept dry and cool, and the myrtles and willows should be wrapped in damp paper toweling and refrigerated when not in use.
ASSEMBLY AND PROCEDURE
The lulav, hadassim and aravot are placed together in a Y-shaped holder made of palm leaves, with the lulav in the center, flanked by the three hadassim on the right and the two aravot on the left. Three more bands of palm leaves are placed around the body of the lulav.
The assembled lulav is held in the right hand, with the spine of the lulav facing the person. The etrog is taken in the left hand with the pitom pointing down. (A left-handed person takes the lulav in his left hand and the etrog in his right.) Holding one’s hands together, the blessings are recited, and after the blessings are completed, the etrog is turned so that its pitom points upward. (The etrog is held upside down until after the blessings have been recited because the blessing over mitzvot must be recited prior to the fulfillment of the mitzvah, which in this case occurs when all four species are held in the way that they grow.) After the blessings have been said, the lulav and etrog, still touching, are shaken in the following order, three times in each direction: right, back, left, front, up, down.
THE BLESSINGS
Boruch ata *Hashem *elokeinu melech ha-olam, asher kidishanoo b’mitzvosov v’tzeevanoo ahl n’teelas lulav.
Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us concerning the taking of a palm branch.
The following blessing is recited only on the first day that the Four Species are taken:
