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Arba Minim a Summary of Holiday Laws in a Clear and Simple Style

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Arba Minim a Summary of Holiday Laws in a Clear and Simple Style בס"ד Arba Minim A Summary of Holiday Laws in a Clear and Simple Style IDENTIFYING THE ARBA MINIM 2 PERFORMING THE MITZVAH 2 OWNING THE ARBA MINIM 3 WHO IS OBLIGATED 3 TIMEFRAMES 3 USING THEM IN SHUL 3 HALLEL 3 HOSHANOS 3 HOSHANA RABBAH 4 ASSEMBLING ARBA MINIMERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. PLACING THEM IN A BUNDLE ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. TYING THEM TOGETHER 4 KEEPING THEM FRESH 4 KEEPING THEM KOSHER 4 ESROG 5 LULAV 5 T’YOMES 5 HADASIM 5 ARAVOS 6 DISPOSING OF THEM 6 By Rabbi Yochanan Schnall Basic Detailed Monsey, NY בס"ד SUKKOS 101 By: Rabbi Yochanan Schnall Identifying the Arba Minim The lulav and esrog are easily recognizable. The remaining five leafy branches are: Three hadasim with small, eye-shaped leaves, and two aravos that have elongated leaves. The branches are collectively referred to as a “lulav” and the entire set is called a “lulav and esrog”. Performing the Mitzvah The mitzvah of shaking the Arba Minim is performed while standing1. Since nothing may interrupt between one’s hands and the Arba Minim, any rings, tefillin straps or unnecessary bandages must be removed before performing the mitzvah2. 1. Before starting, it might be a good idea to find where the appropriate brachos are in the siddur and prop it open to the place. (Usually, the brachos are just before Hallel.) 2. Pick up the lulav in the right hand3 with the lulav’s green spine facing you4. The hadasim should be to the right of the lulav and the aravos to its left5. With the left hand, pick up the esrog upside-down (with the light green stem facing upwards)6. o A lefty holds the lulav in the left hand and the esrog in the right one.7 3. Recite the brachah. o If it is the first time one is performing the mitzvah that year, a Shehechiyanu is also recited.8 4. Carefully turn the esrog over so that the green stem is pointing downwards. This is the correct position for performing the mitzvah9. o A word to the wise: If the esrog could fall while it is turned over, carefully put it down and pick it up again right-side-up. 5. Bring your hands together so that the esrog is touching the lulav.10 Now, you are in position. - While keeping the Arba Minim upright11 and together, extend them towards each of the six directions12. When extending behind you, there is no reason to turn around: Simply point the lulav-top over your shoulder13. - In every direction, the extending should be done back and forth three times14. - As one extends and withdraws, the bundle is gently shaken - just enough to slightly rustle the lulav’s leaves15. - There are two prevalent customs regarding the order of directions: • Front, right, back, left, up and down16 • Right, left, front, up, down, and back17 A few things to be cautious of: o Be careful when shaking the lulav since shaking it vigorously can easily invalidate it. o Additionally, be careful not to poke anyone or anything while shaking. (This is particularly relevant when extending behind you.) Throughout Sukkos, one may not deliberately smell the haddasim’s aroma in order to enjoy their scent.18 It is appropriate to apply this rule to the esrog as well.19 Some have a custom to face east when shaking the lulav20 and some have a custom to shake it in the sukkah21. 2 בס"ד SUKKOS 101 By: Rabbi Yochanan Schnall Owning the Arba Minim Specifically on the first two days of Sukkos the Arba Minim must be personally owned in order to perform the mitzvah22 (this is limited to the first day for those living in Israel). Therefore, when one uses someone else’s set during these days, he or she must actually obtain permission from the owner to acquire the set as a gift23. After using them, the set should be gifted back to the original owner. Since a child under bar/bas mitzvah lacks the legal capability to relinquish ownership, once he or she has acquired the Arba Minim the child will remain its owner. Therefore, one should only lend the set to a child.24 Who Is Obligated All men and boys over bar mitzvah are included in this obligation.25 Boys who are old enough to understand the basic mitzvah concept (usually at about five or six26), must be trained in its performance27. o A parent who can afford to purchase individual Arba Minim for each one of his sons is encouraged to do so28. The set used by a child must also be a valid one29. Beware that inexpensive Arba Minim are often marketed for children but unfortunately their kosher status is often overlooked. Women are exempt from this mitzvah but, of course, they are welcome to perform it if they wish.30 o Women who follow the Ashkenazic tradition should also recite the appropriate brachos.31 Timeframes The Arba Minim are not used on Shabbos.32 In fact, they are muktzah objects during Shabbos and cannot be moved.33 Other than on Shabbos, the mitzvah is performed every day of Sukkos through Hoshana Rabba (the seventh day)34. The mitzvah should ideally be done after sunrise, but it may be performed after dawn (seventy-two minutes earlier).35 o Once the mitzvah becomes available, men and boys over bar mitzvah may not eat until performing it.36 Using Them in Shul In addition to the general mitzvah performance, the Arba Minim are brought to shul. They are held and shaken during Hallel37 as well as during a prayer exclusive to Sukkos called “Hoshanos”. Hallel The Arba Minim are held together throughout Hallel and they are shaken during specific parts of it. Instructions for this can be found in most siddurim, especially those with an English translation. Hoshanos Hoshanos is a prayer that involves taking a Sefer Torah to the center of the shul. The congregation then makes a circuit around the Torah while holding their Arba Minim sets.38 Each day of Sukkos a different paragraph is recited which is determined by the day of the week. Instructions for this can be found in most siddurim, especially those with an English translation. (It is a good idea to find out ahead of time which paragraph will be recited.) While performing Hoshanos, it is difficult to juggle a siddur, lulav and esrog. This becomes easier with using a small card with the texts printed on them (which are available at most Jewish bookstores). 3 בס"ד SUKKOS 101 By: Rabbi Yochanan Schnall Customs vary whether someone who is within the twelve months of mourning for a parent circles the shul, or recites Hoshanos holding the Arba Minim at his seat.39 On Shabbos, the Arba Minim are not used. The Aron Kodesh is opened but none of the Sifrei Torah are removed and the congregants stand in their places while reciting the specific Hoshanos prayers40. Hoshana Rabbah On Hoshana Rabbah (the seventh day of Sukkos), every Sefer Torah in the ark is brought to the middle and seven circuits are made around them. After these circuits, prayers are recited while holding a bundle of aravah branches. The bundle is referred to as a “hoshanos” and it is often available for purchase at the shul. Be prepared! Because of all these additional prayers, shacharis on Hoshana Rabba is quite long. Caring for Them Tying Them Together The lulav branch is independently bound41 and also bound together with the hadasim and aravos.42 These bindings are customarily made of detached lulav leaves.43 Customarily, three bands are used when tying the lulav44 and one band is used to tie the branches together. Customs differ whether the binding with the other branches is one of the three or if it is in additional to them45. o The uppermost binding should be at least three and a half46 inches lower than the tip of the lulav47. o The knots are often made in a decorative manner but this is not a requirement. o It is forbidden to tie a knot on the first two days of Yom Tov, so be sure to bind your lulav beforehand. (for those living in Israel, this is limited to the first day of Yom Tov)48 . If the need arises on Yom Tov, simply wrap a loose lulav leaf (assuming you have one) a few times around the lulav and then tuck the ends into the binding.49 Keeping Them Fresh The lulav and esrog should stay relatively fresh in their cases but in order to keep the hadasim and aravos fresh, they are stored with in a moist environment or with some water50. Everyone has their special trick that works best for them. Whatever yours is, be sure to place them in the water before Yom Tov begins. During the first two days of Yom Tov they may only be returned to water that they were stored in previously.51 Aravos dry out quickly and unless they are replaced with new ones during Sukkos, it is unlikely that the mitzvah will be fulfilled through the entire holiday.52 Keeping Them Kosher Many undetectable issues can disqualify the Arba Minim (such as if they were illegally obtained53 or from a hybrid plant54). Therefore, one must be sure to obtain them from a trustworthy person. In addition, it is appropriate to show the set to a knowledgeable rabbi. This practice exists in Jewish communities throughout the world (and has probably existed throughout our history as well). The rabbi will help determine that your set does not have any visible disqualifications as well as help you appreciate what you have.
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