Sukkot: Insights on the Four Species

The Midrash recounts that a person who wins a court case is considered as if they are leaving the court with the four species in their hands. On Sukkos, we lift our hands, holding up the four species as a trophy, demonstrating our confidence and firm belief that Hashem has accepted our repentance¹.

Uplifting the Physical

We take basic natural items and use them as part of our service of Hashem. Sukkos is the festival centered around agriculture. We build huts with natural materials, have a celebration which commemorates the drawing of water in the Holy Temple, and shake the four species which are made up of earthly materials. We are sanctifying the material and uplifting the physical, using this physical world as a means to connect to Hashem. (learnt from Rabbi Shmuli Sagal)

All for One…

The Midrash compares each part of the four species to a different part of the body. The etrog (the fruit of the citron tree) alludes to the heart, the lulav (date palm branch) represents the spine, the Hadasim (branches from a myrtle tree) correspond to the eyes, and the aravot (branches from a willow tree) allude to the lips. The Midrash records that Dovid Hamelech expresses that these four parts of the body encompass the whole body, and by shaking the Four species we declare: ‘All my bones shall say “Hashem, who is like You?”². By combining these four species we show Hashem our desire to unite every part of our body and physical existence in the service of Hashem. (Vayikra Rabbah 30:14)

The Midrash records that Dovid Hamelech expresses that these four parts of the body encompass the whole body, and by shaking the Four species we declare: ‘All my bones shall say “Hashem, who is like You?”

… and One for all

The four species also represent the name of Hashem (as we see in the prayer said before we take the Four species). The Aravot, Hadasim, Lulav and Etrog represent the Yud and Hey and Vav and Hey (Hebrew letters) of the four-letter Name of Hashem. We wave the four species in every direction to symbolise how Hashem rules over every aspect of nature. However much our vision is clouded and it might seem as though many different forces control and influence the world around us, the four species remind us that Hashem, with His unparalleled love for us, is the Source of it all.

A United Nation

Each of the four species represent a different type of Jew. The etrog with taste and smell represents people who learn Torah and follow the commandments. The lulav has taste but no smell, so it stands for those people who learn Torah but do not follow the commandments. The Hadasim have smell but no taste, and allude to people who follow the commandments but lack Torah knowledge. The Aravot have neither taste nor smell, and symbolise those who don’t have Torah knowledge nor follow the commandments. As we hold the four species together we are reminded that regardless of each person’s individual standing, Hashem desires that the Jewish People is united tightly together – doing so will be a kapara for the Klal as a whole.(Vayikra Rabbah 30:12)

Hashem-focused Happiness

Since Sukkot is the time where one would gather in the grain of the harvest season (another name for Sukkot is ‘Chag Ha’asif’ (Shemos 23:16), meaning the ‘festival of gathering’), joy would naturally be felt. The Sefer Hachinuch (324) explains that since feelings of joy can encourage a focus on physicality and can, as a consequence, cause a person’s fear of Hashem to be weakened, Hashem commanded us to take into our hands things that remind us that all the joy we have is for His sake and His honour. Real, deep-rooted, and long-lasting happiness is one which is connected to our relationship with Hashem.

The Future Is in Our Hands

The Midrash³ explains how the four species represent our forefathers. The Esrog is Avrahom, the Lulav is Yitzchak, the Hadasim are Yaakov, and the Aravot are Yosef. The Midrash gives another explanation that the four species represent our foremothers. The Etrog is Sara, the Lulav is Rivka, the Hadasim are Leah, and the Aravot are Rachel. (The Midrash quotes verses associated with each of the foremothers and forefathers which have words/concepts alluding to the four species). Perhaps when we take the four species and are reminded of our strong, beautiful, and holy roots, we can be filled with a newfound confidence and desire to continue this chain and live a life of personal connection with Hashem. By holding the past of the forefathers and foremothers in our hands, we are reminded that the Jewish future rests in our hands. 

¹ Vayikra Rabbah 30:2 and 3

² Tehillim 35:10

³ Vayikra Rabbah 30:10