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Four plants (Four
Species) play a particularly
important role during the blessings and
 celebrations
of Sukkot. Together, they are called the
Four Species, and according to Jewish
tradition, each represents a type of
person or a part of the body:
The Etrog
- The “Etrog” is a
citron fruit native to Israel. It
resembles a lemon
- As the Etrog has
both a taste and a smell, it’s said
to represent a person who has
learning and is kind to others
- Because of its
shape, the Etrog symbolizes the
heart
- When Sukkot is
over, the Etrog can be put in your
drawers to freshen your clothes (it
will get small and black, but it
won’t rot or lose its fruity
fragrance)
The Lulav
- The “Lulav” is a
dried branch of a palm tree
- As the Lulav has
a taste, but no smell, it’s said to
represent a person who has learning
but ignores good deeds
- The Lulav,
because of its shape, symbolizes the
spine
- The Lulav is
bound together with the two plants
below to signify harmony. Together,
the three are also called the Lulav
(because it’s the largest of
species)
The Hadasim
- The “Hadasim” are
three myrtle branches
- Myrtle branches
have no taste, but they smell
magnificent, so they’re said to
represent a person who has no
learning but does good deeds
- Because of the
shape of their leaves, the Hadasim
symbolize the eyes
The Aravot
- The “Aravot” are
two branches of a willow tree
- According to the
sages, as the Aravot have neither a
scent nor a taste, they represent a
person who has no learning, nor does
good deeds
- Because of the
red veins in their leaves, the
Aravot represent the arteries
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