In this episode, we learn positive mitzvah #36, which is to take the four species during the holiday of Sukkot.
- What are the four species?
- Citron / etrog
- Palm tree branch / lulav
- Myrtle branches / hadasim
- Willow branches / aravot
- When does this mitzvah apply?
- This mitzvah applies during daytime only, not at night.
- In the Beit Hamikdash, it applies to all seven days of Sukkot. Elsewhere, the Biblical obligation is only on the first day of Sukkot. (Sukkot is the seven-day holiday that begins on the 15th day of Tishrei.)
- However, after the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash, our Sages enacted that everyone should take the four species for all seven days of Sukkot.
- Also, we don't take them on Shabbat.
- How is "to take the four species" defined?
- The minimum requirement is to hold all four species, bring them together, and lift.
- We recite a blessing beforehand.
- They should be held in the position that they grow, right-side up.
- As part of our prayers, we move the species in six directions (north, east, south, west, up, & down).
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