(Celebrating the Bounty of Nature)
Of all the Jewish festivals, Sukkot is considered the most universal of the holidays. The seven-day festival revolves around nature and the environment. From the ceremony extolling the blessings of the water and the harvesting of the grains, to the waving of the lulav and etrog set, the focus is on elements which are 100% natural and pure. This celebration of the wonders of nature is a joy shared by all people, which gives Sukkot its international and interdenominational flavor.
In Leviticus (23:40) it is written: “You shall take… the beautiful fruit (Esrog), a palm frond (Lulav), myrtle twigs (Hadas) and willow branches (Arava) of the stream — and rejoice for seven days before the Lord your God. During the festival of Sukkot it is customary for Jews to take an etrog (citron), a lulav (palm shoot), three hadasim (myrtle branches) and two aravot (willow branches). We bind these four species of the plant world, and wave them towards the four directions of the world as well as up and down symbolizing G-ds presence everywhere.
These four species comprise a very meaningful part of the holiday’s tradition. Many Jews go to great lengths and expense to find the perfect, most beautiful arba minim set. Some choose them separately, others prefer to buy them as a set. Today, people can enjoy the luxury of buying a perfect set from the comfort of their living room sofa by ordering lulav and esrog online.
