324. Shake, Shake, Shake: The obligation to take the four species on Succos

On Succos, we speak of “shaking the lulav” or we say we have to go buy our “lulav and esrog.” Really these terms are incomplete, as there are actually four species involved: lulav (palm), esrog (citron), hadassim (myrtle) and aravos (willow). These four species are collectively called the “arba minim” (literally, “four species”). The Torah tells us to gather these four species for use on the first day of Succos. (They were taken each day in the Temple. Rabbinically, we now shake the arba minim every day of Succos excluding Shabbos.)

The reason for the arba minim is to give us a physical activity as a reminder that the joy of Succos, which is a harvest festival, is because of God. We have this mitzvah to focus us on the fact that He has given us all the good for which we are celebrating. (In this, the arba minim on Succos are analogous to a Seder on Passover.)

The Sefer HaChinuch also cites a Midrash that compares the arba minim to four bodily organs. The esrog is like a heart, the lulav like a spine, hadassim like eyes and aravos like lips. We must serve God this completely – with our hearts, with our actions, with our speech and by not straying after desires based on what we see.

This mitzvah applies in all times and places, though women are not obligated in it. It is discussed in the Talmudic tractate of Succah in the third and fourth chapters. It is codified in the Shulchan Aruch starting in Orach Chaim 645. This mitzvah is #169 of the 248 positive mitzvos in the Rambam’s Sefer HaMitzvos and #36 of the 77 positive mitzvos that can be observed today in the Chofetz Chaim’s Sefer HaMitzvos HaKatzar.