1,204. The Former Practice of Jerusalem

Hilchos Shofar, Succah v’Lulav 7:24

The practice observed in Jerusalem was for a person to leave his house in the morning with his lulav in hand. He would enter the shul and pray with it in his hand. One would even go to visit the sick and to comfort mourners with his lulav in hand. When one entered the study hall, however, he would send his lulav home with his son or a servant.

Hilchos Shofar, Succah v’Lulav 7:25

In previous times, when the lulav was still taken on Shabbos, a woman could take the lulav from her son or husband and return it to its water on Shabbos. On yom tov, one was permitted to add to the water. On chol hamoed, one could change the water altogether.